12 th STATE ELECTION
KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg pointed out that the 12th State Election (PRN12) is “still a long way away”.
He was asked to clarify on the election date which some sources have hinted might be in October, but the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman only brushed it aside.
“Who said so? It could be made up. No, it’s still a long way away,” he told reporters during his visit to the project site of the new Sungai Bintangor Bridge at Jalan Datuk Ajibah Abol here yesterday (Aug 8).
Abang Johari was also asked about the formation of a new political party led by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“Let him be, I have no mood to comment on the new party,” he exclaimed.
Last Friday evening (Aug 7), it was reported that Dr M announced the formation of a new party which will be fully independent and will not support either the ruling Perikatan Nasional (PN) or his former coalition partners Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Abang Johari was also asked to comment on Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) Sarawak which recently announced their intention to contest in the coming state election, contradicting its top leadership’s previous statement that they would not do so.
“That’s up to them. The election is still far away. Let them say whatever; never mind. I don’t know whether the top leadership directs them (to do so) or not, but as far as GPS is concerned, we are (ready) any time,” he said.
Asked whether he has any fear of PAS, Abang Johari turned the question around by asking why GPS should fear the party.
A day before, PAS Sarawak commissioner, Jofri Jaraiee, said the party had identified several areas that they would contest in the 12th state election including the so-called PAS “traditional areas” in the state, whatever that means.
Early last month, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang during a meeting of party heads under the Perikatan Nasional government in Putrajaya, assured Sarawak leaders that his party would sit out the state elections.
The party has apparently now gone back on its word.
