KUCHING: Physical election campaigning is unlikely to be allowed during the coming state polls.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the Election Commission (EC) had briefed the Sarawak government that there would be no physical campaigning.
However, he did not disclose when the state government was briefed by the EC.
“For polling day, it would be like how we enter supermarkets now, whereby everyone has to be screened first, face masks on, practising physical distancing and others.
“It might slow down the process but of course, if there were more lanes, it would also expedite the process. So this is not a problem for us,” he told the media after officiating at the launch of the Sport Sarawak corporate logo at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre here on Monday (Nov 1).
However, the Asajaya assemblyman was still unsure whether or not other election standard operating procedures (SOPs) used for the Melaka polls would be used for the Sarawak election.
“This is because our State Legislative Assembly has not been dissolved yet. But looking at the Covid-19 situation, I’m sure what is applied in Melaka (restriction of election-related activities) will also be applied here.
“It should not be a problem. For me, it is good. It is better to have SOPs for the election,” the state Youth and Sports Minister pointed out, adding that the SOPs would be applied to all – government and opposition.
