MIRI – It looks like the election fever is on in Sarawak with a series of meetings held between community chiefs, heads of government departments, district officers and elected representatives.
Speculation is rife within the upper echelons of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) that it plans to head for the 12th state election by December.
The state election, which was due in September, was postponed when the federal government declared a new state of emergency for Sarawak to help deal with the Covid-19 pandemic spreading swiftly across the state.
The emergency in Sarawak will last until February 2, 2022.
State assemblyman for Lambir, Ripin Lamat, when gracing a closed-door meeting at a hotel here, told community chiefs that they are to communicate “correct information” concerning the government’s latest policies to the rakyat.
“You are the key communicators on the ground.
“You must disseminate correct information to the people in your villages concerning the latest government policies on current issues.
“Do not spread wrong information,” Lamat said as quoted by the Sarawak Public Communication Unit.
Some 200 community chiefs and senior government officers from Lambir constituency attended the meeting with Lamat.
There are some 6,000 community chiefs at longhouses and kampungs throughout Sarawak.
It is learnt that they have received directives from the state authorities to be on standby mode to give their full support in facilitating voters’ movement as and when they are told to do so.
The Vibes learned that these directives are being issued to all 40 districts statewide.
A community chief, when contacted, confirmed that the directive was sent via official circulars.
“The state government wants every chieftain to give full support in getting voters to turn out in full force for voting.
“The directive says all chieftains must use every available resource from their village development committee and village groups to cooperate in this matter.
“The directive said all community chiefs must be on standby mode.
“They must be ready for the state election, which will be announced anytime now,” said the community leader from northern Sarawak’s Baram district.
There are more than 6,000 settlements located in rural, sub-rural and urban districts statewide.
Each has a chieftain who is officially appointed by the state government via the district office and resident office.
Community chieftain posts like penghulu, tuai rumah, pemanca, kapitan and the likes are official positions created by the state government, acting as community leaders in their society.
On October 23, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob told the people to “wait first” on the date or timing of the impending state election.
He emphasised that the timing of the election depends on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as the power to repeal the Emergency Order lies with him.
Sarawak has 82 state seats and GPS controls 68 of them. – The Vibes, October 29, 2021
