Understand process of election during Emergency, rep says in retort to DAP man

Tupong assemblyman Fazzruddin Abdul Rahman has urged Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak secretary Alan Ling to understand the process of election during the state of Emergency.

Fazzruddin was reacting to Ling’s call for Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to defer the state election until next year due to the current Covid-19 pandemic situation.

“I have one thing to ask him (Alan Ling): Who has the power to invoke state election now?

“I think it is misleading to ask GPS because we’re in Emergency Ordinance enacted by the Agong. So he should try to understand the process of election in this emergency,” he said when contacted yesterday.

He also stressed that the state government’s focus right now is on the pandemic and not politics, as it puts the people’s welfare first.

“And our Chief Minister repeatedly said that he wants to focus on this Covid-19 pandemic and he doesn’t want to talk about election, so that should say something,” said Fazzruddin.

On July 20, Ling had suggested to the GPS government to postpone the state election rumoured to be held this yearend to next year, when the Covid-19 situation in the country is fully under control.

He backed this with the daily Covid-19 infection showing no improvements and large numbers of Sarawak population yet to be vaccinated against the virus.

The Sarawak Legislative Assembly’s five-year term expired in June this year, but the election has been postponed following the declaration of Emergency by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong until Aug 1.

If the Emergency were to be lifted on Aug 1, the Sarawak election must be called within 60 days.