KUCHING, Nov 4: With Sarawak entering the Covid-19 endemic phase and 90 per cent of its population fully vaccinated, SUPP said it is time to let the people elect a new government with a fresh mandate to govern the State.
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting pointed out that the lifting of the Emergency in Sarawak yesterday to pave way for the State election is necessary to uphold democracy and return power to the people to elect and form a new Sarawak government.
“The lifting (of Emergency) to pave way for the 12th State Election is necessary as the current (sic) State Legislative Assembly (DUN) has ended in June 2021,” he said in a statement today.
The Piasau assemblyman noted that the DUN has finally dissolved and the Election Commission (EC) has to decide on a date for the polls to be held within 60 days from the day of the revocation of the Emergency.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah yesterday (Nov 3) assented to lift the Emergency in Sarawak ahead of the scheduled Feb 2, 2022 date.
The Sarawak DUN should have been automatically dissolved in June 2021 following the expiry of its term, but the State election was put on hold due to the implementation of a nationwide Emergency which ended on Aug 1, and the extension of emergency in Sarawak from Aug 2 to Feb 2, 2022.
While the risk of Covid-19 spreading during the election campaign and on polling day is a serious concern, Ting however is confident that the EC will devise stringent guidelines on how to conduct the polls safely.
Meanwhile, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Women chief Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said that the PBB Women’s wing workers are in high spirit and ready to march onto the battlefield led by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leader Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“Our election machinery will shift into high gear. We are eagerly waiting for the announcement of nomination date, polling date, campaign period as well as SOP (standard operating procedures) from the EC as polls will be held amidst the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.
The Mukah assemblywoman noted that this election, which will be held in a new norm, would pose some challenges to party workers, especially campaigners who are so used to house-to-house and face-to-face campaign activities.
“But we must be mindful of compliance with the SOP set by the EC before, during and after the election,” she added. — DayakDaily
