TWO things must be done before the 12th Sarawak state elections can be held, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said.

Firstly, he said, the emergency proclamation until February 2 next year as declared by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah will have to be terminated earlier with the king’s consent.

“Secondly, the Sarawak state elections can be held if His Majesty approves the terms agreed upon between Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud with the state government and Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg,” he told reporters after the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of Mutiara Iman Mosque in Kuching today.

On July 31, the king proclaimed a six-month emergency in Sarawak from August 2 to February 2, 2022 in view of the Covid-19 epidemic, thus suspending the state elections for that period.

According to Article 21(3) of the Sarawak Constitution, the Sarawak legislative assembly should have stood dissolved on June 7, but it does not have the power under paragraph 15(1)(a) of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 to suspend the dissolution of a legislative assembly.

However, section 2(2) of the Emergency (Essential Powers) (Sarawak) Ordinance 2021, issued in conjunction with the emergency proclamation for Sarawak, states that the operation of the proclamation of emergency may be terminated earlier by the king after consultation with the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak. – Bernama, October 16, 2021.