MIRI – The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has advised the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition to continue functioning as the state government during the current emergency period despite the automatic dissolution of the state assembly, as required by the state constitution after June 6.
“The Agong has advised Sarawak GPS to continue administering as usual under the emergency ordinance,” Chief Minister Datuk Abang Johari Abang Openg’s office said in a statement today.
“The chief minister has left the decision on the dissolution to the Agong,” it said.
Abang Johari today had an online audience with the king to discuss matters pertaining to the expiry of the current state assembly.
As chairman of the ruling GPS, Abang Johari spoke to the king with Sarawak Governor Tun Taib Mahmud and other state ministers.
The state assembly’s term ends on June 6, and will be automatically dissolved on June 7.
The Election Commission will have 60 days to stage the 12th state polls after the dissolution to allow Sarawakians decide on its new state government.
However, the nationwide emergency to contain the Covid-19 pandemic is only scheduled to end on August 1.
The statement did not divulge whether the king had mentioned a specific date for the 12th state election.
GPS currently controls 68 of Sarawak’s 82 state constituencies. – The Vibes, May 25, 2021
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