Only State Budget should be debated in State Assembly – Jamawi

THE budget that should be discussed in the State Legislative Assembly is the one tabled and announced by the Chief Minister, and not a different one, said Kemabong assemblyman Jamawi Ja’afar.

Opposition members are welcome to disagree and debate the budget, but to present a different or alternative budget should not be done during this assembly sitting.

Jamawi said this in the light of Sabah opposition chief, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan’s attempt to present an alternative budget during yesterday’s session, which was ordered to be withdrawn by Speaker Syed Abas Syed Ali.

“This goes against the rules of the assembly. We know that the budget under discussion is the one presented by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Shafie Apdal, and that is the one that should be debated.

“Even opposition members in parliament don’t table an alternative budget. They hold a press conference and talk about it outside the assembly. Otherwise, it would confuse members of the assembly and the general public,” he said. Jamawi added that there might be confusion where people would think they were discussing something that was passed by the government, when it was just an attempt to present an alternative budget.

At the press conference, Jamawi reiterated the need to empower youths, especially through education, as they are the determinants of the nation and its future.

The closure of the teacher training institutes (IPG) in Keningau and Tawau should not happen as there is still a need for Sabahan teachers, he said.

“Not having enough teachers from Sabah should not be an excuse to bring in teachers from West Malaysia.