MIRI – The 12th state polls may still be held this year, said Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri James Jemut Masing.
He said should the Covid-19 situation in the state be brought under control, the state election may be called before the end of the year, despite the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to extend the emergency in Sarawak from August 2 to February 2 next year.
“We, the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government, need to get a fresh mandate from the rakyat. This is needed so that GPS and the chief minister can run the state for the next five years.
“We can still flatten the Covid-19 curve within the next few weeks, and then petition the king to lift the emergency so we can hold the state election before the end of this year.”
PRS is a component party in GPS, which also includes Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, Sarawak United People’s Party and Progressive Democratic Party.
The deputy chief minister’s remark comes as other GPS leaders remain cautious over the election being held too soon due to the high number of Delta variant cases in the state, especially in Kuching.
The Agong has consented to a six-month extension of the emergency in the state – in view of Covid-19 – effectively delaying the 12th state polls.
State Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said “as soon as it is safe”, the government will go back to the people for a mandate.
“Let the people decide who is competent, and works and performs at this extraordinarily challenging time.”
A new state of emergency specifically for Sarawak was announced today, in an apparent move to postpone the state polls, which are due in two months, and deal with the Covid-19 pandemic that is spreading across the state.
This comes ahead of the expiry of the national emergency tomorrow. It started in January.
The Agong consented to the new proclamation last Thursday, and it was published in the government gazette yesterday.
The nationwide emergency declared to contain the virus is set to end after midnight today, following which Sarawak was slated to hold its state election within 60 days.
The state assembly was supposed to be automatically dissolved on June 7 – a day after its term expired – but the king advised the state government to continue administering as usual until the emergency ends.
Sarawak has seen some 70,000 Covid-19 cases and 460 deaths in the past 18 months. – The Vibes, July 31, 2021
