KUCHING, Oct 18: The Election Commission (EC) should not to take the easy way out when it comes to planning the upcoming 12th Sarawak State Election (PRN12) in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This is the view of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council member Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar when he opined that the EC should, starting from now, learn from other countries on their ways of conducting an election without causing an upsurge in Covid-19 cases.
“They (EC) should now learn from the Singapore election in July and New Zealand that just completed its election, on how they conducted their elections during Covid-19 period.
“And then EC should also implement the same thing here in Malaysia, starting with Sarawak State Election,” he pointed out in a statement.
Wan Junaidi who is also the Santubong MP opined there is still time for the EC to think of ways to tighten standard operation procedures (SOPs) at various stages of an election and that the good examples of Singapore and New Zealand are just a phone call or email away.
On a related issue, Wan Junaidi opined Sarawak is left with no other choice but to hold the state election soon, agreeing with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s statement earlier today at the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Special Convention 2020.
At the function, Abang Johari declared that Sarawak will have its state election despite the Covid-19 situation because the state government has proven to be effective in handling the novel coronavirus.
“The state has no choice but to have the election. It’s a matter of making the choice on the date of the (DUN) dissolution.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to allow the term of the DUN (Sarawak Legislative Assembly) to lapse by itself.
“Chief Minister must show that leadership to recommend to the TYT (Sarawak Governor Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud) to dissolve the DUN,” asserted Wan Junaidi in a statement today.
He added that Abang Johari has to exercise his constitutional duty and obligation first, and following that, it is up to the EC to present the approved SOPs to allow election-related activities.
“After that it’s up to EC to come up with the SOPs appropriate for the pre-nomination, nomination, campaign and the polling day periods while under the threats of Covid-19,” he added. — DayakDaily
