KUCHING: Non-governmental organisation (NGO), Bersih has expressed concern over Sarawak Disaster Management Committee’s (SDMC) involvement in drafting the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the upcoming state election.
“Under Article 113 of the Federal Constitution, it is the Election Commission (EC) who is mandated to conduct elections, which includes the necessary drafting and set of SOPs.
“Other agencies, be it federal or state, can and should only be consulted by the EC to come out with suitable and appropriate SOPs to reduce the risks of Covid-19 virus infection, at the same time to uphold the integrity of the process as well as to make elections as inclusive as possible so that all categories of voters can participate in it,” it explained in a statement on Tuesday (Nov 30).
It also lauded Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa who had disclosed that his ministry would discuss with the Sarawak government the need for candidates in the 12th state election to campaign through the government official television and radio channels as what was done during the recently concluded Melaka state election.
