12th state election
KUCHING: Sarawak will have to adopt stringent measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 if it holds the state election soon.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing said the move was essential in order to avoid a second wave of the pandemic as what happened in Sabah after its recent state elections.
“Covid-19 is not only infectious. It kills. Now it is creating another problem for this government. By April of 2021, our State Legislative Assembly (DUN) will have attained its 5-year term. What it means is that we need to have our state election come April 2021.
“We are also told by medical experts that the coronavirus will still be a health threat for at least another year. In short, Covid-19 will be around us till the end of 2021, but the laws of Sarawak stipulate that we must have our state election come April 2021,” he said during Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) 16th anniversary dinner at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), on Wednesday.
Masing who is PRS president, noted that the election must be held within 60 days after the dissolution of the state legislative assembly.
He pointed out that in order for the state to hold its election, studies must be carried out on countries which had successfully held its election amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, namely South Korea, Singapore and New Zealand.
“During this health pandemic of 2020, these nations held their general elections with no deadly consequences.
“What did they do to contain the spread of Covid-19? South Korea, Singapore and New Zealand’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) need to be studied very carefully if we are to push ahead with our election this year.
“Whatever options the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) government wishes to pursue, we should study the success story of Singapore and South Korea, and critically analyse the disasters of Sabah’s state election in September.
He added Election Commission (EC) officers should also follow strict health SOPs while carrying out their duties to ensure smooth polling.
“Longhouses, kampung and settlements, must bar strangers from coming in, nor can they go out. Large gatherings must be disallowed,” said Masing.
