SARAWAK Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg has dismissed news reports that the legislative assembly will be dissolved today to pave the way for state elections.

“I was surprised when I read about it,” he told reporters after launching the Sri Aman Development Authority in the rural town of Simanggang, located132km from Kuching, this morning.

“How come you guys know about it?” was his query and reply to reporters asking for confirmation.

“When will the elections be held? I don’t know (because) it’s not within my power (to decide).

“That power lies with the (Yang di-Pertuan) Agong,” he said.

The tenure of the state assembly ended on June 6 and under the state constitution,  elections must be held within 60 days.

However, the state of emergency declared in the country to tackle the Covid-19 epidemic has put the elections on hold and the assembly in suspension.

The elections were further put on hold after the emergency was lifted on August 1 as a localised emergency for Sarawak was declared until February next year.  

“No elections yet. Just wait. I am also waiting,” said Abang Johari.

The chief minister said speculation that the elections were imminent could be due to his recent audience with the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.

“I did have an audience with the Deputy Agong. I only asked about the emergency. We discussed the Covid (situation). That’s all I asked and discussed. Nothing else,” he said.

The state’s largest English daily, The Borneo Post, citing “reliable sources”, reported yesterday that the assembly will be dissolved today and that polling will be held on November 27.

The Star went a step further, saying Abang Johari “is expected” to call for a special press conference on the dissolution today.

The Chief Minister’s Office, in a terse statement issued this afternoon, stated that “no such meeting (on the dissolution) is scheduled to happen for now or tomorrow as reported”. – October 21, 2021.