SARAWAK Chief Minister, Abang Johari Openg today said that he was in no rush to call for state elections, particularly with the surge in the number of Covid-19 cases now. 

He said although the state elections could be called anytime now, public health should be given due consideration before he could make such a call. 

“We are monitoring the situation. Why should we rush (to call for an election) as the (health of the) people is more important,” he told reporters after attending a lunch gathering with Samarahan community leaders. 

Abang Johari said he would get expert advice from the Health Ministry and ensure that the Election Commission would be fully prepared to implement procedures for the new norm in conducting the elections. 

“They (health experts) are monitoring and they are giving me advice (to facilitate my making the decision on the elections),” he said, while declining to reveal the advice given to him by the experts.

Talks of the Sarawak elections have been rife since earlier this year as the State Assembly term will end next June. 

“The state elections are inevitable, except that we don’t know when the elections (are going to be called),” said Abang Johari, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman. 

Meanwhile, GPS secretary-general, Alexander Nanta Linggi said the coalition, which also included Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), had not yet decided on any date to call for the state elections. 

“So far, there is no meeting of the GPS Supreme Leadership Council to discuss the state election,” he said in a statement. 

He added that the GPS government was very concerned about the current spike in Covid-19 infections and took the safety and lives of the people in Sarawak very seriously. – Bernama, November 3, 2020.