MIRI – Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Sarawak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah wants the state polls to be held in September.
The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president told reporters in Kuching that the vote cannot be further delayed.
“We cannot keep postponing the state election. We must get a fresh mandate from the rakyat.
“We in GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) cannot remain in power without a new mandate from the rakyat, as the five-year term has expired.
“The rakyat have the right to choose the next state government for the next five years.
Covid-19 will not go away from Sarawak, so we must go to the polls even with the pandemic still around, with strict election SOPs in place.”
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting, on the other hand, told the press here that it is not yet safe to hold the state election.
“The Covid-19 war in Sarawak is ongoing, and the risk of infections remains high. It is not safe to have the state election any time soon.”
Saratok MP Ali Biju of Bersatu in a statement called for the polls to be conducted early next year.
“Infections, hospitalisations and deaths due to Covid-19 are still high in Sarawak.”
It is speculated that the GPS top brass will petition the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to extend the state of emergency only in Sarawak so as to avoid having to call the 12th state election.
A coalition source told The Vibes of growing concern among member parties PBB, SUPP, Parti Rakyat Sarawak and Progressive Democratic Party following the surge in cases involving the highly infectious Delta variant.
“The various GPS party leaders have been speaking with each other and with the chief minister (Datuk Abang Johari Openg) about concerns related to having to hold the state election within 60 days of the expiry of the emergency on August 1.
“We (GPS partners) are very concerned about the extent of the harm that Delta can cause if an election is held now. There will be the mass movement of people throughout the state.
Look at what happened in Sabah during their last state election (in September 2020). Infections and fatalities came swiftly after the polls. Sarawak is much bigger than Sabah, and the possibility of an even worse scenario in Sarawak is very real.”
A GPS leader speaking on condition of anonymity expressed similar sentiments.
“The chief minister has not committed himself to extending the emergency in Sarawak, but has told fellow leaders that he will need to consult the state governor and king.
“The decision on whether to extend the emergency in Sarawak is in the hands of the Agong.”
GPS secretary-general Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi yesterday said the pact is willing to listen to different views concerning the coronavirus situation.
The coalition is even willing to hear out opposition parties on not conducting the vote at this time, he said.
The nationwide emergency declared to contain Covid-19 is set to end on August 1, and Sarawak has to hold its state election within 60 days of that date.
The state assembly was supposed to be automatically dissolved on June 7, a day after its term expired, but the king advised GPS to continue administering the state as usual until the emergency ends. – The Vibes, July 29, 2021
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