KUCHING: The Sarawak Legislative Assembly has approved the Supplementary Supply (2024) Bill for an additional sum of RM68.7mil to meet the costs of various services incurred by state ministries and departments.
The Bill, tabled by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, was passed on Thursday (Nov 14) after an Opposition lawmaker's request for details on some of the additional expenses was rejected by Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar.
Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Padungan) wanted to know the breakdown of an additional RM888,000 requested by the state Public Health, Housing and Local Government Ministry for travelling and subsistence allowances, rents, professional services, hospitality and other services for its human resource administration.
He also sought details on an extra RM1.16mil requested by the same ministry for travelling and subsistence allowances for its environmental support activity.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah (right) gesturing in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Thursday (Nov 14). - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
However, Asfia said Standing Order 66(4) provides that the matter raised shall not deal with the details of the expenditure.
As such, he said Uggah was not expected to provide the details but to confine his answer to the policy related to the expenditure.
In response, Uggah said the state government followed clear, stringent guidelines on financial matters.
"We are a responsible government. Whoever wants to travel overseas must get the state Cabinet's approval.
"For the programmes queried, all the details are strictly examined by the state financial secretary," he said.
