SRI AMAN – Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Abang Johari Openg said yesterday that in an audience with Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, they only discussed matters relating to Covid-19 and not the 12th Sarawak election.
He, however, did not give further details, such as when the audience was held.
“Yes, I was granted an audience with the deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong and had asked about urgent matters relating to Covid-19… that is all, nothing about the state election,” he said when responding to media speculation that the Sarawak assembly will be dissolved.
He was speaking at a press conference after officiating the launch of the Sri Aman Development Agency here.
Abang Johari said any question of a state election for Sarawak now lie in the hands of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
“It is not within my power, it is the power of the (Yang di-Pertuan) Agong… if the Agong decrees for an election, then there will be one. I cannot go into further detail as it is not within my powers to do so,” he said.
It has been speculated that the Sarawak assembly was to be dissolved yesterday to pave the way for the 12th state election.
On July 31, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong proclaimed a six-month emergency in Sarawak from August 2 to February 2, in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, thus suspending the state election. – Bernama, October 22, 2021
