KUCHING – Sarawak state cabinet members plan to appeal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to lift the emergency order in Sarawak if the state can bring the Covid-19 situation to a manageable level.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Jemut Masing said this in a WhatsApp message to Bernama after several cabinet members had an ‘informal discussion’ about the matter.
He said if the appeal is favourably considered, it would pave the way for the 12th state election to be held, as the term for the current state assembly ends in June.
“It was discussed informally among my colleagues, as a way to have PRN12 Sarawak (12th State election), b4 (before) DUN (Sarawak legislative assembly term) expires in June 2021 after the MMKN (Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri or the State Cabinet) (meeting) on 21.01.21 (Wednesday),” he said in the text message.
The meeting was chaired by the Chief Minister Datuk Abang Johari Tun Openg at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here and Masing confirmed that Abang Johari was among those involved in the informal discussion.
“Yes. CM (Chief Minister Abang Johari) was there (in the informal discussion),” said Masing.
The deputy chief minister said the call for a state election would depend on the state’s ability to bring down the number of Covid-19 cases.
He said Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had declared an emergency as the country was still battling Covid-19, and it (emergency) would restrict people from moving around.
“But if Sarawak can flatten the (infection) curve or contain Covid-19, we may ask the King to lift the emergency in Sarawak and then we (can) have the election,” he said.
On January 12, The king proclaimed a state of emergency, to be enforced up to August 1, as a proactive measure to contain the worsening Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on the same day explained that the Cabinet had advised the Agong to proclaim a state of emergency under Clause (1) of Article 150.
The Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 among others stipulated that general elections, state elections and by-elections, as well as Parliament and State Legislative Assembly sittings will not be held as long as the emergency is in force. – Bernama, January 22, 2021
