By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, June 17: The lifting of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 on Aug 1 will put Sarawak in a real political and social conundrum, says Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing.
He indicated that the 12th Sarawak Election (PRN12) will go ahead in October 2021 despite the State and Malaysia unlikely to achieve the target of vaccinating 80 per cent of the population to achieve herd immunity.
Highlighting this, Masing expressed great concern that the post-emergency period is best to practice democracy as a delicate balance between democracy and lives of people must be achieved.
“We are not out of the woods yet, but the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) has expired on June 6, 2021.
“By law, we must have an election within two months upon the lifting of the Emergency on Aug 1,” he said.
Masing who is also Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president thus said Sarawak is stuck between a hard rock and a deep blue sea.
He believed the Ministry of Health (MoH) must put in place strict health guidelines for an election to be held under the circumstances of the current Covid-19 pandemic.
Among those include prohibiting physical campaigning, more Election Commission (EC) workers and ballot boxes to be used in rural constituencies, extend polling time and reduce time between nomination and polling dates.
In view of that, Masing who is also Infrastructure and Ports Development Minister opined that there could be lower voter turnout for PRN12.
Nevertheless, he believed the process of democracy can be maintained through the organising of the State Election and at the same time curb the transmission of Covid-19. — DayakDaily
