KUCHING, Dec 13: Democratic Action Party (DAP) candidate for N2 Tasik Biru, Granda Aing, has called on the authorities and community leaders to allow all parties contesting in the 12th Sarawak Election to use community halls freely.
“I refer to the circular by the Resident’s Office in Kuching, purportedly, prohibiting the ‘Opposition parties’ from using community halls in the villages within the Bau District. We have been informed of this by the District Office in Bau.
“We would like to remind those in the civil service that with the dissolution of the DUN (State Legislative Assembly), there are no more Opposition parties, and neither is there any ruling party.
“All the parties are contesting in the State election on equal footing, namely, there is no one party ruling nor opposition until a new government is elected,” he said in a statement today.
Therefore, he said it is wrong for the civil service to label some as the Opposition and some as ruling.
“It is also wrong and an abuse of power on behalf of the Resident’s Office to issue such circular. As an office of the government, the Resident’s Office cannot play politics by siding with GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) against the other parties who are all legally taking part in a democratic election process,” he said.
Granda added that if the circular is made on the behest of the politicians, be it those contesting or otherwise, it is also wrong and is an offence under the Election Offences Act 1954.
“As this election is part of the exercise of the democratic process in the State, those in authority, especially those holding influence and power over the directions or outcome of the elections, must refrain from siding with any party and remain neutral.
“As the community leaders are apolitical, they must also remain neutral and refrain from taking sides.
“Let’s make this election a clean and fair election,” he said. — DayakDaily
