KUCHING: The term 'negeri' (state) in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) can be dropped, said the Speaker of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar.
Expressing his personal view, the Speaker of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly explained that this is in line with the provisions under the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63) which recognises Sarawak as a territory.
However, the Sarawak Executive Body needs to decide whether to remove the word 'negeri' from the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly or otherwise.
"Considering that we are a territory, it is logical for the word 'negeri' to be dropped.
"So, the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly should be known as the Sarawak Legislative Assembly because we are not a state.
"I leave it to the executive (to make the decision)," he said at a press conference after the Pre-Council Meeting of the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Headquarters here on Saturday.
Previously, Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian on April 21 stated that the place should be called the 'Sarawak Legislative Assembly' instead of the 'Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.'
Datuk Amar Dr Sim said the change is to recognise Sarawak as a founding member of Malaysia and not just a state.
Meanwhile, Mohamad Asfia suggested that if the change occurs, members and the speaker of the assembly should be called Members of the Sarawak Assembly and Speaker of the Sarawak Assembly.
He also rejected the use of the word 'territory' as it would downgrade Sarawak's status to a Federal Territory.-UKASnews
