BARBADOS – A delegation from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Sarawak Branch has participated in the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held in Barbados. The group was headed by the Speaker of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar.
The conference, convened from 5th to 12th October 2025, gathered more than 500 parliamentarians and officials from across the Commonwealth. The central theme, ‘The Commonwealth: A Global Partner’, guided discussions on a range of critical issues.
These included methods to fortify democratic institutions, the application of technology and artificial intelligence in legislatures, and strategies for building public trust. The impact of climate change on global health was also a key topic of debate.
Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia underscored the significance of the event for the Sarawak delegation. He stated that the annual conference is a vital opportunity for professional development and for sharing best practices with colleagues from other Commonwealth legislatures.
The Sarawak contingent also included Lingga Assemblywoman, Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor, and the Secretary of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, Nur Azhar Bujang. Dayang Noorazah took part in meetings of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP), which focuses on advancing gender equality.
Concurrently, Nur Azhar attended the *59th Society of Clerks-at-the-Table (SOCATT)* meetings, a forum for parliamentary clerks to exchange knowledge. The main conference was held alongside other significant meetings, including those for small branches and parliamentarians with disabilities.
