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LUNDU: Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg said today that the Sarawak government will proceed with the twelfth Sarawak state election following the King’s decision not to allow Putrajaya to declare a state of emergency.
He added that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will seek a new mandate from the people before June next year.
“As there is no emergency, the Sarawak government will continue to function as usual, but our mandate is about to end.
“So we have no choice but to again seek the support of the people with state polls,” he told reporters after launching an artificial reef ball program.
Abang Johari said that the Election Commission (EC) can learn from the elections in Singapore, New Zealand and South Korea, which were held during the pandemic without causing any increase in Covid-19 cases.
He said that he will also leave to the EC the implementation of the strict standard operating procedures necessary to ensure that the Sarawak state elections do not worsen the Covid-19 situation in the state and the country.
Recent Sabah surveys had been seen by many quarters as the cause of the largest increase in Covid-19 cases across the state and on the peninsula over the past two months.
Abang Johari also said Sarawak was grateful for the king’s advice to politicians to stop their politicking, as it could upset the stability of the country’s administration.
“We must stand together to fight Covid-19,” he said.
When asked about Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s meeting with MPs and cabinet colleagues this morning, Abang Johari said it was just a “normal meeting.”
“Yes, we have (GPS) Fadillah Yusof there,” he said, referring to the Minister of Works.
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