SARAWAK Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg today refused to comment on reports that the government plans to declare a state of emergency nationwide.

“I don’t want to comment on hearsay. How to comment when there are no details?” Abang Johari Openg told reporters after attending ceremonies in Samarahan this morning.

“There was a report alleging the emergency would be announced last night. There was nothing,” said Abang Johari.

“How to comment when I don’t have the details? This is a very serious subject. You just cannot simply comment on a very serious subject.

Yesterday, state Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Abdul Karim Hamzah said if s state of emergency was required to tackle a health crisis like the current spike in Covid-19 cases in the country, then it should conditional and imposed in the worst affected states or areas, like Sabah.

Karim said there should not be a blanket coverage and certainly should not be imposed in Sarawak, where he said the situation is well under control with single digit reported cases.

He said Sarawak was at a level where it defied logic to impose an emergency.

Karim also said he did not believe Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin would use the emergency to address the political situation he faces.

“Should not be done to stop the opposition if it’s because of the fear of no confidence vote.

“I don’t think that should be one of the grounds to impose an emergency,” he said. – October 24, 2020.