By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 17: The window for the dissolution of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUNS) is becoming increasingly narrow, raising the likelihood of the State election being held on one of three December weekends, namely Dec 5, 12 or 19, said Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said with the current Assembly’s five-year term ending in December, the window for dissolution and the subsequent election was becoming increasingly limited, making a December poll more likely.
“Personally, I see now we are already near the end of October. We have got November and December. The election must be very, very close,” he told a press conference after officiating DayakDaily’s Sarawak Folklore Writing Competition Awards Ceremony and launching of Pewarta’s “Sarawak Folklore Book I” at Imperial Hotel today.
Abdul Karim also pointed to the festive and religious calendar as a factor that could complicate the scheduling of a poll in January or February, with Chinese New Year and Ramadan falling during that period.
December, meanwhile, would also present scheduling challenges due to Christmas and the year-end holiday season.
“I would say we have got only one and a half months, November and half of December. So, it has to be somewhere there,” he added.
Abdul Karim, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief, said he was not surprised by speculation that the election could be held on Dec 12 or 19, as both dates fall on weekends, when elections are commonly conducted.
However, he stressed that the dates remained speculative and would depend on when the Assembly was dissolved and the subsequent arrangements made by the Election Commission (EC).
He said the EC would need time to convene and determine the election dates before the campaign period could begin, with past State elections suggesting that about two weeks were usually allocated for campaigning.
Taking these preparations into account, he said a dissolution in late October or November would likely lead to an election in December.
Abdul Karim stressed that the election timeline would ultimately depend on when Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg decided to dissolve the Assembly.
Under election law, he noted, a state election must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly, whether it is dissolved by the Premier or automatically upon completing its five-year term.
“I believe any chief executive, including Menteri Besar, Chief Minister or Premier for Sarawak would likely prefer to determine the timing of the dissolution rather than allow the Assembly to expire automatically so to give the State greater control over the circumstances surrounding the election,” he said.
He explained that this is because unforeseen situations, such as flooding, haze or other emergencies, could complicate election preparations if the Assembly were to dissolve automatically at an unfavourable time.
On the possibility of the Assembly being dissolved immediately after its sitting scheduled to end on Oct 21, Abdul Karim said the current sitting was particularly important as it involved the tabling and approval of the Sarawak Budget 2027.
He said the budget needed to be approved by the Assembly to ensure the government could meet its financial commitments, including paying civil servants’ salaries in the following year.
Abdul Karim added that the Sarawak Budget was usually tabled after the federal budget, allowing the State to proceed with its own budgetary process.
He said the timing of any dissolution after the budget sitting would ultimately remain the Premier’s prerogative.
While the possibility of a December election appeared increasingly strong, Abdul Karim reiterated that the final date would depend on the Premier’s decision and the subsequent arrangements made by the EC. — DayakDaily
