MIRI – Sarawak opposition leader Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh has claimed to have received reliable information that the 12th state election is being planned to be called before the end of this year, when Undi18 is to be implemented.
The Bawang Assan assemblyman said the state’s ruling coalition, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), is afraid of Undi18, which will see the lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18 coming into effect by year-end.
“I have received reliable information from within GPS that the 12th state election will be held before the end of this year,” he said in a statement today.
“GPS is afraid to face the new bloc of voters under the Undi18 (aged 18 to 21).
“GPS wants to avoid unpredictable voters and so will rush through with the state election this year,” he said in a press statement.
Wong, who is Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) president, was commenting on a GPS minister’s assertion yesterday that the party can still wait until February next year before calling for state polls, as the state is under emergency due to the pandemic.
It was reported yesterday that GPS leaders may just wait for the Melaka election to be held before deciding to call for the Sarawak polls.
A senior state leader yesterday said GPS still has some time left as the local Covid-19 health emergency is in place until February next year.
Sarawak Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president, said there is no need for Sarawak to hold its state election together with Melaka.
“We in Sarawak have to hold our state election very soon,” he said.
“Although there are talks that it may be held in November, I think we can still wait a bit longer and not hold it at the same time as the Melaka election.
“We in Sarawak are still dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. Unless we can bring down the level of daily infections, we may have to wait a bit more even though we must have the state polls concluded.”
Karim said Chief Minister Datuk Abang Johari Openg may seek the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to lift the emergency in Sarawak earlier if the situation improves and is safe enough.
“Then, we can have our state election, but the Election Commission must draw up comprehensive election standard operating procedures soon," he said.
Speaking to reporters after visiting SMK Asajaya near Kuching, Karim said the Covid-19 situation in Sarawak is still at pandemic level.
He said that as far as PBB is concerned, the party is in the final process of selecting its candidates for the state election.
“There will be several new faces, and I hope there will be more female candidates from PBB,” he said.
PBB is the main component party in GPS. The others are Sarawak United Peoples’ Party, Parti Rakyat Sarawak and Progressive Democratic Party.
GPS controls 68 of the 82 state constituencies in this vast state.
The state assembly’s current term expired on June 6, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Agong has extended its term until February next year.
The Melaka election has to be held within the 60 days after the governor dissolved the state assembly effective October 4, after four assemblymen withdrew their support for the chief minister. – The Vibes, October 8, 2021
