IT was only three days ago that the Health Ministry revealed that Sarawak is seeing the greatest number of increases in the highly contagious Delta variant of Covid-19, and yet today a state leader is already talking about holding the 12th state polls after the emergency expires on August 1.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Masing this morning said the Sarawak government will hold state polls soon.
“Unless the Agong or governor says otherwise, the state elections will be held within 60 days from August 1 when the Emergency ends,” he said in a statement.
Masing is president of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) – one of the four component parties in the ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
The other three component members are Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu, Sarawak United Peoples Party and Progressive Democratic Party.
Showing how keen he is to have state polls proceed, Masing said today that Sarawakians should achieve herd immunity against Covid-19 by the end of August, judging from the heightened pace of the vaccination process.
A more caring and rakyat-focused Masing could have said that GPS is looking for ways to make sure Sarawakians are protected from the Delta variant before state polls can proceed.
In fact, it would be better if he discussed the state polls with other GPS leaders and refrain from publicly stirring up even more concerns for us ordinary citizens.
What a time to talk about state elections!
Sarawakians living in constant worry
It is really disturbing to hear state leaders starting election talks and then proceeding with election campaigning.
We ordinary folk are already worried sick about the Covid-19 having killed 445 people and infecting almost 70,000 Sarawakians during the past months.
Our lives have been turned upside down, and we are living in constant worry.
And now with the Delta variant surging in Sarawak with other Variants of Concern like Beta, Theta and Alpha, the last thing we ordinary folk need is a public election.
The current term of the Sarawak assembly ended June 6, and it was supposed to be automatically dissolved on June 7.
On June 6, Speaker Datuk Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar issued a notice to reps to continue as usual until the end of the emergency on August 1.
“Even though the current term is supposed to dissolve on June 7 as stipulated by the state constitution, the emergency ordinance in place stated no public elections can be held during the emergency.
“Therefore, the current legislative assembly will continue as usual until a time when the Agong decides the state assembly can be dissolved, and a state election held,” he had said in a press statement.
The Sarawak Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) had in May issued a statement saying that the Agong had advised Gabungan Parti Sarawak to continue operating as usual under the emergency ordinance, even after June 6.
“The chief minister has left the decision on the dissolution to the Agong,” said the CMO.
Chief Minister Datuk Abang Johari Openg held an online audience with the king to discuss matters pertaining to the expiry of the state assembly, which will end its current natural term on June 6 next year.
Abang Johari, as chairman of the ruling GPS, spoke to the king, with Sarawak Governor Tun Taib Mahmud.
For this term, Sarawak has 82 state constituencies, with GPS controlling 68.
I think Masing and the rest of the GPS should convene an emergency meeting with the opposition parties of Sarawak – namely, DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, and Parti Amanah – to get all their views on the state elections and the current state of the Covid-19 crisis in Sarawak.
Find a compromise to delay the 12th state election and then seek an audience with the Agong and Sarawak governor.
Do not proceed with the state polls.
It is simply too dangerous as the Delta variant is starting to spread. – The Vibes, 25 July, 2021
