KUCHING: Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi) says there is no need for the parliamentary and Sarawak state elections to be held simultaneously.
Its president Lina Soo said this was because Sarawakians have given the mandate to the state government to rule for a full term which would run to mid-2021.
“Instead, it is good to have a snap general election in view of the current political instability and going back to the voters for a mandate is the right thing to do,” she told New Sarawak Tribune on Sunday.
Soo was commenting on speculation of a snap general election to be held jointly with the state election.
She said it was only right that the Sarawak election must remain separate from the Parliamentary election.
“Sarawak is a component nation in the Federation of Malaysia and our Sarawak election is an internal political feature of Sarawak politics which should be conducted free from Malaya’s political influences.
“This is our unique Sarawak right which we should uphold,” stressed Lina.
On Saturday, political observer Datuk Peter Minos commented that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would have no choice but to dissolve Parliament and call for fresh election as it was very hard for the PN government to operate with a very slim majority of one or two MPs.
He said a fresh general election was necessary in a search for political peace and stability.
“The latest rumours are that it will be held soon and there is a possibility that both the general election and Sarawak state election be held together,” said Minos.