By Karen Bong
KUCHING, June 1: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will leave it to the wisdom of Prime Minister Dato Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to decide on the most suitable time to call the 15th General Election (GE15).
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg emphasised that Sarawak has no problem in facing the upcoming general election which has been speculated will be called early.
“This is a general election so we leave it to the Prime Minister. Sarawak has no problem. The dissolution of the Parliament is decided by the Prime Minister,” he said briefly, in response to a question from members of the press at the Gawai Dayak open house hosted by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Dayak leaders at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.
This was in response to news reports by Nikkei Asia yesterday (May 31) where Ismail Sabri downplayed calls for an early election considering that Malaysia is currently facing increasing inflation on the back of high food prices and other living expenses.
The Prime Minister told the Japaneses financial paper in an interview that he will wait for “the right time” to call an election which is not due until September next year.
It was reported that Ismail Sabri has been under pressure from some quarters in his party United Malays National Organisation (Umno), to call for early elections to capitalise on Umno’s resurgent popularity in recent state elections, especially in Melaka and Johor.
Meanwhile, the PBB Gawai Dayak open house was jointly hosted by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi, Datuk Roland Sagah, Dato Gerawat Gala, Dato Henry Sum Agong, Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu and Martin Ben.
Thousands of people of all races, backgrounds and age groups turned up at the open house to join in the festivities while enjoying a sumptuous feast of local delicacies and performances at the site.
Abang Johari’s wife Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang, Deputies Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Minister of Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin and Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Julaihi Narawi were among those present. — DayakDaily
