[UPDATED] No word yet on lifting of S’wak emergency status: Gerawat

MIRI – Deputy Sarawak Speaker Datuk Gerawat Gala has not yet been informed if the dissolution will take place today or tomorrow, or on other dates – amid speculations that the chief minister is seeking an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to lift the state’s emergency status.

Gerawat told The Vibes that he has not received any notification and the matter has been left to the chief minister, the head of state and the Agong.

“Any decision on the dissolution will be totally dependent on the decision from the Agong as to whether he agrees to the lifting of the localised emergency that he had imposed in Sarawak, which will expire only in February.

“As it is now, there is plenty of speculation on specific dates, but one thing is for sure, the state election is very near.”

Gerawat said speculations on dates are part and parcel of any impending election.

As at 10am today, there is no word from the Chief Minister’s Office in Kuching of any last-minute announcements or press conferences.

The Agong had in August imposed the localised emergency in Sarawak due to the Covid-19 crisis in the state.

The current state assembly term had expired on June 6.

It automatically dissolved on June 7 but due to the pandemic, the Agong had extended the tenure of the state government until the state election could be safely held, or until the emergency expires in February.

Talks had it that the ruling state coalition of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), which controls 68 of the 82 state constituencies, wants polling to be done before the end of next month.

The state’s main opposition parties – Sarawak Pakatan Harapan and Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) – have accused GPS of calling for an election now because GPS leaders are afraid that Undi18 will come into force next year.

PSB president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh and Sarawak PH chairman Chong Chieng Jen alleged that GPS wanted to avoid voters aged 18 to 20 as they are new ground.

Astro Awani reported that Chief Minister Datuk Abang Johari Openg will announce the dissolution tomorrow.

Sources told the news portal that GPS wants to hold the polls before the monsoon season in December.

A local paper yesterday said the dissolution will be announced by Johari today. – The Vibes, October 21, 2021