DRAFTERS of Bills in Parliament, including the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), are reminded to ensure that the texts are grammatically correct and to avoid spelling errors, says Deputy Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor.
He said, for example, the word “rabbit” was printed as rabbit” in the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) (Amendment) Bill 2022.
However, he said he was told by the Dewan Rakyat secretary that the English language version of the Bill would prevail.
“AGC, please check properly before releasing the copy. The quality is deteriorating,” he added.
Earlier, Ramli also raised the issue of the use of the words “sheep” and “goat” in the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bill.
“I urge the ministry and the drafting division of the AGC to take note. Please check the text of the blue Bill before it is tabled.
“We need legitimacy in the Dewan. Please take note AGC and the parties in charge of the Bill and the tabling of the Bill in the House.”
When checked, Section 1A of the third schedule of the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bill contained words such as: Cattle, Domestic fowl, Sheep, Goat, Deer and Rabbit which were spelt in English.
In clarifying on the use of English, Deputy Agriculture and Food Industry Minister 1 Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah, said the original Fama Act was gazetted in English.
“The original Act was in English and there has been no translation in the national language so far.”
Therefore, Ahmad said the amendments would have to be made in English while the instructions for the amendment of the law would be in Bahasa Malaysia.
