Covid-19 and floods affecting timing of Sarawak election - Wan Junaidi

 

The current spike in Covid-19 cases in the country and floods which usually occur at the end of the year in Sarawak would be among the factors affecting the timing of the state election.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) supreme council member Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (above) said it cannot be denied that the state election is approaching but the question of when it will be held is the prerogative of Chief Minister Abang Johari Tun Openg.

“This is a requirement of the law and Constitution and not a political need. In the present situation, we are facing the Covid-19 pandemic so the Election Commission (EC) has the power to decide the specific standard operating procedure (SOP) for all places involved in the election.

“We see it (election) taking place at the latest in June 2021. It is now October 2020. Therefore, it is not far away and that is why preparations should start now,” he said.

Wan Junaidi was speaking to reporters after chairing the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) component Election Liaison Committee meeting in Kuching today.

The mandate of the current state government ends in June 2021.

Asked whether the state election would be held at the end of the year, which is known as a flood season in Sarawak, Wan Junaidi, who is also the state's entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister said he would look from the historical aspect, whether it had been held before, and what were the challenges then.

Sarawak held its fourth state election in December, from the 28th to 29th, back in 1983.

On the increasing cases of Covid-19 linked to the Sabah state election, the Santubong MP did not agree for a health emergency to be declared with the purpose of not holding the state election. This was because, he said, such a declaration has never been announced in the world, just to avoid facing the constituents.

“Covid-19 can be handled with everybody complying to SOPs such as physical distancing, wearing face masks, and avoiding crowded places. The matter (health) cannot be considered as an emergency,” he said.

- Bernama