KUCHING: Lessons should be taken from the spike in Covid-19 cases in the aftermath of the Sabah state election, said Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chief Chong Chieng Jen.
He urged Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to not dissolve the Sarawak State Legislature (DUN) triggering a state election in the next six months.
“It is irresponsible to dissolve the DUN and have elections this year especially with what happened after the recently concluded Sabah State Election,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
The Sarawak Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman noted that the Covid-19 situation in Sabah was under control until it decided to hold its state polls.
“The Sabah state election was inevitable due to the attempted coup by (former chief minister) Tan Sri Musa Aman to topple the Warisan-plus government.
“As for Sarawak, the current term will only expire in June, 2021 and there is no risk of anyone toppling the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government through any ‘backdoor exercise’.
“The current state government still has more than nine months to go before its term expires. Therefore, there is no necessity to rush the elections now,” he said.
Chong conceded while holding the state election in the recovery movement control order (RMCO) period would be favourable to the ruling party, the wellbeing of the populace has to be prioritised.
“In the interest and wellbeing of the people and thousands of government servants involved in running the elections, no government should rush into elections at this time,” he said.
