KUCHING – “What’s the hurry?” – that was the immediate reaction of Parti Sarawak Bersatu president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh when news of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong consenting to lift the emergency in Sarawak broke out.
Speaking from a longhouse he was visiting in Sibu, Wong told The Vibes that the Sarawak governor and chief minister (CM) can appeal to the Agong to re-impose the state of emergency and defer the 12th state elections till next year.
“This is to protect Sarawakians from suffering a major public health crisis if the state elections are held any time soon. The present climate in the state is not conducive yet to hold a state election,” he said.
Wong said with 80% of intensive care unit (ICU) facilities in the state currently occupied, the actual cases of daily infections issued by the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee do not seem to reflect the reality on the ground.
“The situation is still bad, perhaps there is less testing and less contact tracing,” he said.
Wong said the health of the people will be at stake and lives will be lost, as holding a state election is a major public exercise with the movement of people within the state.
“It is not only an influx of politicians and people, but also ancillary and uniformed personnel from Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah.”
Citing the Sabah elections held on September 26 last year, Wong said on October 2 last year there were only 11,771 cases of Covid-19 infections and 136 deaths nationwide.
“In the corresponding period this year, we recorded 2.44 million cases of infections and 28,400 fatalities. This alone is enough to teach us a big lesson that we must not in any way jeopardise the lives and safety of our people.
“If another Sabah-like situation ensues in Sarawak, let history judge the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government,” he added.
DAP’s Michael Kong told The Vibes that the lifting of the emergency shows the insensitivity of GPS towards two groups of people – the family of the late Tan Sri James Jemut Masing, and the youth, particularly those aged between 18 and 21.
He said Masing had just passed away and received his final send-off this afternoon.
“Barely a few hours have passed and GPS wants to bulldoze a state election to cling on to its power. There is a total lack of class and compassion to not allow the family of the deceased to grieve in peace.
“At the same time, the act of pushing through the elections at this point of time only goes to show how GPS is trying to suppress the voices of the youth.
“Everything we do is to build the foundations for a better future, which our youth will inherit.
“Therefore, naturally, the youth should have a say in the way that the state is heading. To cut them off from the current electoral process is, in effect, stifling their voices,” said Kong, special officer to state DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen.
Political interests above well-being of people
DAP representative for Bukit Assek Irene Chang said the CM has gone on record to say that GPS is not afraid of Undi18 votes.
“But the mere fact that GPS was pushing for the emergency to be lifted now shows otherwise.
“This is especially when the Dewan Rakyat health, science, and innovation committee had just two days ago told the government that the country is not ready to enter the endemic Covid-19 stage.
“Now that the emergency has lifted, it is certain that the Sarawak assembly will be dissolved without any delay, and the Election Commission (EC) will fix the polling date before the end of the year.”
She said the Sarawak government has obviously put its political interests above the health and well-being of the people and country, as the pandemic situation is not conducive for the holding of a major public exercise such as a state election.
She said in the current scenario – and in light of the latest standard operating procedures, as announced by the EC for candidates who will be campaigning – it would give the government an edge over the opposition.
“This means the elections will not be held on a level playing field. But we in DAP are always ready as we have been regularly on the ground, serving the people and discharging our duties,” she said.
According to Ba’Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian: “The lifting of the emergency in Sarawak does not come as a surprise, as the signs have been around that GPS is gearing up for the elections – the most recent being the visit by Abang Jo (Datuk Abang Johari Openg) and (Datuk) Awang Tengah (Ali Hasan) to Lawas, where my constituency is.
“The CM and his advisers must be prepared to take responsibility – should there be another wave of infections following the elections – if it is held while our Covid-19 numbers are still high.
“Our ICU beds are reported to be at 80% occupancy, and one of our deputy CMs was laid to rest today, having passed away from complications brought on by a Covid-19 infection.”
Baru – who is also Selangau MP – said, “Abang Johari has insisted that he is not afraid of the Undi18 votes. Unfortunately for him, not one Sarawakian believes that, barring some from the GPS camp, perhaps.
“If he really is not afraid of Undi18 and the previously unregistered voters, let him put his money where his mouth is and delay the elections until next year when Covid-19 numbers are more manageable.” – The Vibes, November 3, 2021
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