Sarawak polls 60 days after emergency ends, says EC

 

The Sarawak state assembly should have stood dissolved on June 7, but this has been delayed because of the emergency. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sarawak State Election will be held within 60 days from the date the emergency proclamation for Sarawak is revoked or annulled, says Election Commission (EC) secretary Ikmalrudin Ishak.

He said the EC has taken note of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s statement on July 31 on the proclamation by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

“The declaration of the proclamation by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was made in accordance with Clause (1) of Article 150 of the Federal Constitution to suspend the state election and that this proclamation shall extend throughout the state of Sarawak from Aug 2, 2021 to Feb 2, 2022,” he said in a statement today.

According to him, an ordinance was promulgated by the King under Clause (2B) of Article 150 of the Federal Constitution, known as the Emergency (Essential Powers) (Sarawak) Ordinance 2021 P.U. (A) 324.

He said that under the provisions of Clause (3) of Article 21 of the Sarawak constitution, the state assembly that should have been dissolved after five years from its first meeting, had no effect pursuant to Section 3 (1) of the emergency ordinance.

The state assembly should have stood dissolved on June 7, five years from the date of its first meeting. However, the provision could not take effect due to the implementation of the emergency (essential powers) ordinance 2021.

With the extension of the emergency until Feb 2, 2022 in the state, elections can be held as late as April next year, or later if the emergency is further extended. - FMT