KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Youth secretary-general Milton Foo agrees with Santubong MP Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar’s remarks that the Chief Minister and his Cabinet still have the full authority to govern Sarawak throughout the Emergency period even beyond the expiry of their terms on June 6.
“I agree with the view of Wan Junaidi in the light of Section 13 when read together with Section 15 of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 gazetted on Jan 14, 2021,” he said.
“As the Emergency is still in force until Aug 1, 2021, election for any State Legislative Assembly shall only be held on a date as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong thinks appropriate after consultation with the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak under Section 13(b) and Section 15(1)(b) of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021.
“Under section 13(a) and Section 15(1)(a) of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021, the provisions in the Federal Constitution, Constitution of any State and any State law requiring an election to be held shall have no effect while the emergency is in force,” he said.
On April 24, Wan Junaidi, who is also the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister pointed out Section 11(b) the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance allowed the government to continue exercising executive authority in the same role that it was in on Jan 11 when the Emergency was proclaimed.
“From the foregoing provisions, it is obvious that the chief minister and his Cabinet still have full authority to govern the state throughout the period of Emergency even beyond what is considered to be the end of their terms on June 6.
“This is until such time the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, after consultation with the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, dissolves the Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) under Section 15(1)(b) of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021.
“In other words, the term of the state legislature does not end on June 6, 2021. It only ends on the date after the Emergency is lifted plus the number of days of suspension counted from June 6,” he said.
