Stamp to commemorate DUN 150th anniversary unveiled
KUCHING: State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) and Pos Malaysia Berhad launched a commemorative postage stamp in celebration of the house 150th anniversary of DUN.
Launched by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, the stamp depicts both the first DUN building, a humble building in Bintulu where the first meeting was held in 1867, and the current iconic building on the bank of Sarawak River.
It also depicts the mace which symbolises the power and authority of the Speaker. The mace represents a new age and time of today’s legislative assembly, replacing one which had been in use for over 30 years.
A replica of the stamp was delivered by a postman straight to the hands of Abang Johari at the commemorative launch yesterday.
Deputy chief ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Assistant Minister of Resource Planning and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin, DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, and Deputy Minister of Communication and Multimedia Datuk Jailani Johari were also present.
Sarawak’s DUN is the oldest legislature in the country, formed by the then Rajah Muda Charles Brooke under orders of Rajah James Brooke.
The General Council first convened on Sept 8, 1867 at a village in Bintulu with members chosen from the local tribal leaders hand- picked to assist Brooke with the administration of the kingdom.
The first 21 members of the Sarawak General Council comprised 16 community leaders, and six Brooke officers headed by Charles Brooke.
It was renamed Council Negri in 1903 which sat at the Court House until Dec 28, 1973, when it was moved to Dewan Pembangunan Tun Abdul Razak.
In 1976, it was once again renamed the State Legislative Assembly and had its own building. Finally, in 2009, it moved into its current building.