Sarawak state election will be held ‘very soon’ says PBB official

 Members of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu have been urged to step up election preparations and not wait for the election to be called.

The current Sarawak state assembly’s term expires in February, unless dissolved earlier. Election must be held within 60 days of dissolution.

PETALING JAYA:

A women’s wing leader of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu has said the Sarawak state election will be held “very soon” and urged members to step up preparations.

Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali of PBB central zone women’s wing, said the polls could be held “next month or whenever, but it will be very soon”, the Borneo Post quoted her as saying. “Therefore, we must be ready. “We must be prepared.”

She urged the women’s wings at the branch level to start conducting refresher sessions on election procedures, including the do’s and don’ts of campaigning and election activities.

She also told branch leaders to obtain the latest electoral rolls and familiarise themselves with the number and demographic profile of voters in their respective areas. They should not wait until the election is called.

Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.

“We must know how many voters there are in each branch, how many are women and men, and other demographic details. “This will make it easier for us to plan our vote-control and mobilisation efforts,” she said.

Hasidah’s call follows a prediction of an early election made two months ago by Dr Sim Kui Hian, the vice-chairman of Sarawak’s ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak. He hinted that the polls would be held before the final quarter of the year, claiming “we are fighting the war less than 100 days from now”.

However, Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg has remained reticent over when the polls would be held.

The state assembly’s term expires in February, unless dissolved earlier. An election must be held within 60 days of dissolution, or by April at the latest. - FMT