State Legislative Assembly dissolution
SIMANGGANG: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has expressed surprise over media reports speculating that the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) might be dissolved on Thursday (Oct 21).
“I am surprised. I read that the DUN will be dissolved today (Thursday). I also didn’t know,” he said during a press conference following the official launch of Sri Aman Development Agency (Sada) here on Thursday.
He said he had an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, but clarified that matters discussed revolved around the Covid-19 situation and the Emergency.
He said the timing of the state election was not within his power and this would depend on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“How would I know? It is not my power; it is the Agong’s power. If the Agong says to hold the election, then we hold the election. I cannot tell you in detail because it is not my power,” he said.
With regard to the state election, the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman said to ‘just wait’, adding that he was also still waiting.
He said that perhaps people were speculating that the state election might be held soon in view of the decreasing number of Covid-19 cases lately.
“The people see that the number of Covid-19 cases has dropped. Maybe people start to wonder that maybe it is election time,” said Abang Johari.
There were speculations that the Sarawak DUN would be dissolved on Thursday (Oct 21), paving the way for the 12th State Election.
The Sarawak DUN’s term was supposed to expire on June 6. However, a health emergency was proclaimed in Sarawak, which is set to expire on Feb 2 next year.
