KUCHING: Rumours that the coming state election will be held between August and October may hold water, said political observer Datuk Peter Minos.
At this moment, he said nobody really knows the exact date as the decision lies with the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to advise the Yang di-Pertua Negeri on when to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) in order to pave the way for the state polls.
He explained that the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) will automatically dissolve on June 6, as per the constitution but can be extended by law for two months until Aug 6.
“Sarawak election can be held before June 6 when the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government has the advantages of incumbency or after June 6 when nobody is a DUN member.
“There is a window between May 15 to 30; maybe that two weeks can be considered,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that the time period seems a little too good to be true as it is a little too soon.
“Having the state election then could also exacerbate the Covid-19 pandemic which is registering triple digits daily cases in the state,” he said.
He also noted that the country is still under a state of emergency which will only be over by Aug 1. Only then will it not become a hindrance for an election to be held.
“Therefore, if the election is to be held this year, it could be any time until December,” he told New Sarawak Tribune.
Minos also predicted that the GPS will prevail and win big in the coming election.
He described the coming polls as the ‘mother’ of state elections which will witness GPS going all out to have the mandate returned to them.
Additionally, he said Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) as the component parties of Pakatan Harapan (PH) as well as Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) will put up a good fight in an attempt to overthrow GPS and take over Sarawak as they repeatedly said so.
“However, I believe that the GPS is in the minds of Sarawakians for being able and capable in looking after Sarawak; the credible records of GPS are there for all to see.
“As for PH, all I hear and see are endless rhetoric which are pretty empty. Not to mention that the coalition had a record of breaking promises and pledges and bullying Sarawak while being in the federal government which lasted for 22 months,” he said.
Minos further explained that PH was currently in some big troubles, with DAP facing internal leadership squabbles.
“The PKR top leader on the other hand, is only dying to be the prime minister while the party’s Sarawak branch remains leaderless and being neither here or there.
“As for PSB, it is a party of angry dissidents and hoppers, hence it will be very tough for it to get respect from Sarawakians, much less their votes.
“For outspoken PSB, I wonder if it can win even one seat for it has no good or solid record to show, except a long story of ‘jumping around’ and a bad rough time while its key members were in government.
“No matter how you look at it, Sarawakians can only rely on GPS to continue running the state ably, keeping the peace, holding the races together, maintaining current racial and religious harmony and bringing economic growth and development,” he said.
