KUCHING, Nov 25: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing disagrees with the suggestion to amend both the Federal and Sarawak Constitutions to allow for an extension of the present tenure of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) which expires on June 6, next year.
“There is no need to amend our Federal and State Constitutions to extend the tenure of the current Sarawak DUN because of the Covid-19 pandemic. I believe that PRN12 (12th State election) will be held before Sarawak’s DUN expires on June 6, 2021,” Masing said here today.
He was commenting on Advocates Association of Sarawak (AAS) president Ranbir Singh Singha, who has suggested to the Federal government to introduce a bill in Parliament to amend the Federal Constitution in order to extend the current tenure of the present DUN.
Masing reiterated that Sarawak could still hold its election by then even if the Covid-19 pandemic still prevails, through strict compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOP).
“I suggest we empower community leaders, tuai rumah, ketua kaum and kapitan Cina to prevent visitors from visiting their longhouses, kampongs, settlements during the period between nomination and polling as there is no medical equipment to do swap test to find out that visitors are free of covid19.
“Thus, the best way is to ban visitors from coming in and no one allows to go out during the period of the campaign. There should be complete closure except for emergencies.
“Orang Malaya and Sabahans or people coming from outside of Sarawak will be under quarantine for 14 days or more if needed,” he said.
Masing who is acting SDMC chairman said, during the nomination and campaign period, SDMC will ban the gathering of not more than ten people. -DayakDaily
