Aspirasi: Put politicking in the backburner, rebuild bruised economy

Lina Soo

By Adrian Lim

KUCHING, Oct 26: Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi) is urging all politicians to heed the call by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to stop all politicking during the current Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

Its president Lina Soo also urged the government to concentrate its efforts on managing the economy and curbing the Covid-19 infections as many people have suffered as a result of the pandemic.

At the same time, she also pleaded with the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government to hold the 12th State Election (PRN12) next year when the Covid-19 situation stabilises as the term of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) has more than six months before expiry.

“We are grateful to His Majesty for not imposing the state of emergency. We value his message in which he said no more politicking which we strongly support.

“I want to tell the politicians (that) this is not the time for politicking and I urge (the) GPS state government not to talk about PRN (state election) this year.

“No more politicking and also in Peninsular Malaysia.

“We have to pause for half a year and try to get our lives back (to normal) rather than trying to stir more political agitation,” she said during a press conference here today.

Yesterday, Al-Sultan Abdullah after meeting the Malay Rulers in Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur said he decided not to declare a state of emergency for the country after Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin met him last Friday to present a proposal from the Federal Cabinet for the call to implement an emergency for the country.

The King also reminded politicians to stop politicking which could cause political instability for the country.

In the meantime, Soo believed that it would be more appropriate to hold the 12th state election next year or even a snap general election when the Covid-19 situation in the country stabilises.

She believes that the vaccine for Covid-19 could be available in the market some time in the middle of next year.

Looking at past history, she observed that most of the pandemic normally lasted for two years. —DayakDaily