MIRI – As Sarawak expects a date on the lifting of its localised emergency soon, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has proposed November 27 for the state election’s polling date, said a source.
The source told The Vibes that the ruling coalition is also looking at results being announced on the same day.
“GPS has proposed November 27 as the polling day. We want the ballot counting and the results to be announced on the same night.
“The coalition prefers a short campaign period of seven to 10 days at the most,” said a source.
It is believed that GPS’ top guns informed the Election Commission of these requests during a meeting last week.
“There will be absolutely no campaigning in the form of meeting voters. So there is no need for a 14-day campaign period.”
The source is a branch chief in one of the GPS coalition parties.
GPS is made up of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, Sarawak United People's Party, Parti Rakyat Sarawak, and Progressive Democratic Party.
The coalition currently controls 68 of the 82 state constituencies.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong yesterday consented to the lifting of the emergency imposed on Sarawak that was supposed to only end in February.
In a statement by Istana Negara yesterday, Acting Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Azuan Effendy Zairakithnaini said the Agong’s decision on the emergency was made after taking into account a request by Sarawak Governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, and the advice of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said the Agong had also heard the views of Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun, and the heads of two related government agencies.
Also present with the attorney-general were Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Election Commission chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh, and National Security Council Director-General Datuk Rodzi Md Saad.
The statement came after Taib was granted an audience with the Agong on Monday.
This paved the way for the state election after the automatic dissolution of the state assembly.
However, state opposition leaders slammed GPS for its move to seek an election amid the pandemic, as Sarawak is one of the worst-hit states in the country.
GPS has also been accused of wanting to avoid facing new voters as Undi18 and automatic voter registration come into effect early next year. – The Vibes, November 4, 2021
