KUCHING – The Sarawak government must not be cowed by the opposition’s call to defer the state election that is long overdue, following the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s consent to end the local emergency before it expires in February, said observers.
“It is an ill-prepared and irresponsible opposition that wants to scuttle plans by the state government to hold the election without further delay,” political observer Peter Minos told The Vibes today.
He said the people have long waited to return a fresh mandate and it is their right within the precepts of democracy.
“This right of the people to return a new mandate must not be held to ransom by blaming it on the current pandemic.”
Minos said that he believes as it is the people’s will to vote in the government of the day, the Election Commission will roll out its machinery to create a safe and conducive environment for the people to vote.
“The state has already achieved 80% herd immunity and we are currently in the endemic stage of the pandemic where booster vaccine doses are already being given to certain categories of the population.
“Furthermore, with very strict SOPs (standard operating procedures) implemented on nomination day, the campaigning period, and on voting day, I am confident that the state elections can be successfully carried out without further delay,” he added.
Sarawak lawyer and social activist Voon Shiak Ni shared similar sentiments, saying the state election was long overdue.
“It was supposed to be held in June this year. We cannot continue to postpone an election as elections are deemed necessary for the people to exercise their constitutional and democratic voting rights as enshrined in the federal constitution.
“The Agong’s consent to lift the emergency before it expires paves the way for the Sarawak election is expected and must not come as a surprise or shock to any political party and its candidates.
“With the lifting of the emergency, we would expect the elections to be held within the next 60 days. It is of course a challenging task and a difficult decision to call for a state election amid a pandemic crisis.
“So, it is important that all the necessary guidelines and safety measures are in place to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus and necessary enforcement and preventive measures must be in place to make sure all political parties adhere strictly to the SOPs while conducting their campaigns,” she said.
Voon said some countries around the world have pushed through with their elections despite the pandemic.
She added that South Korea, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and Singapore, as well as Indonesia, which has a huge population, have carried out their national elections very well.
“This can be done even in the face of a raging pandemic on the ground. Some of the countries have opted for virtual campaign rallies where mass gatherings of people are disallowed and political campaigns and ceramah are mainly done through social media.
“In Singapore, public gatherings during their election campaign were banned effectively and permits were not given for election meetings and rallies. Most of their campaigns were conducted via forums in social media,” she said.
“I am also hopeful that Sarawak can go virtual to carry out its political campaigns and rallies. We are all aware that we are living with the virus in the community. I am hopeful that we can mitigate the degree of the spread of the pandemic by going virtual for political campaigns,” she added.
Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chuk Pai Ugon has also voiced his support for the state election to proceed without any hitch.
“I hope a situation will not arise that will warrant the king a legitimate and legal reason to stop the state election from being held. Let us get on with it and earn a new mandate from the rakyat.
“Sarawak has achieved about 80% herd immunity and booster doses are being given now which means the majority of people in the state are protected from the deadly spread of the coronavirus.
“Stringent SOPs must be enforced including closing our borders to outsiders from nomination day to polling day. The elections must be held under stringent public health protocols to avoid increased caseloads that can impact our already burdened medical services and facilities.” – The Vibes, November 4, 2021
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