KOTA KINABALU: Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin will open the first session of the 16th Sabah State Assembly on Thursday (Nov 12).
The new session begins after Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (pic), won the state government from the Warisan Plus coalition led by Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal in the Sept 26 state election.
Newly-appointed Speaker Datuk Kadzim M Yahya said that the two-day gathering would be held under strict observance with Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).
He said the traditional parade for the opening ceremony by Juhar would not be held this time round while the second day of the sitting would be held on Monday (Nov 16).
Kadzim said that the debates for the Governor’s speech would be limited and not all assemblymen will be able to participate due to time constraints.
“A supplementary budget will also be tabled during the Monday sitting,” he said.
He said the state budget for 2021 would be tabled in December where there will be ample time given for all assemblymen to debate.
The assembly session is expected to be streamed live with only official media allowed to cover the opening session.
GRS won 38 seats in the state elections and was boosted by the three independent assemblymen joining its ranks, giving it a majority of 41 seats in the 73 seats contested.
GRS – comprising Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional (Sabah Bersatu, Sabah STAR, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP)) and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) - further strengthened its position with the appointment of six nominated assemblymen.
It gives them a total of 47 seats in the 79-member house.
GRS will face one of the largest opposition blocs in the history of Sabah state assembly with 32 lawmakers coming from Warisan and its partners Upko, DAP and PKR.
Losing candidates in six state constituencies - Pintasan, Karambunai, Darau, Sindumin, Petagas and Kukusan - have filed election petitions on the results of their seats.
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