By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, May 10: The Covid-19 menace and its management will not affect the outcome of this upcoming Sarawak Election where ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will still win with a comfortable majority.
This is the view point of political scientist Prof. Dr Jayum Jawan of Universiti Putra Malaysia who believed the opposition are still not ready to replace the present ruling coalition.
“People vote for party especially and to a lesser extent the candidate. The majority of voters have already decided who they are going to vote. Some small percentages are the fence sitters who wait till the last minute to decide and then cast their votes.
“A new small percentage of new or first time voters are still looking for reasons to support one political party over others or wait till they see who the candidates are in their respective election areas.
“GPS will sail through with a comfortable margin of majority to earn the privilege to be called to form the regional government after the coming Sarawak Election.
“This is due to the fact that its opponents are presently, basically less organised, less prepared and comprised mainly unknown, recycled as well as disgruntled former members,” Jayum told Dayakdaily.
He also held that Covid-19 may affect the Sarawak Election by bringing about a new way to vote but not its outcome.
“Covid-19 should bring about a new way by which votes are to be cast based on the fact that there is still the need to keep the distance in order to stop the spread of the disease.
“Covid-19 is not going to change who people will vote for in the coming elections. It is not the key factor in how votes will be cast,” said Jayum.
On the dissolution of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN), Jayum said the date of the dissolution of the present DUN is no longer relevant where it will be automatically dissolved.
“The issue of dissolution of the regional assembly (Sarawak DUN) is no longer relevant. It is running to its very last days before automatically being dissolved.
“There is no longer any strategic movement in which to dissolve it.
“Once dissolved, the law provides that the Sarawak Election is to be held within 60 days, and so the issue with the emergency may also not arise as it could be decided to be held in the first week after the expiry of the state of emergency,” said Jayum. — DayakDaily
