THE 12th Sarawak state elections begin tomorrow with the nomination of candidates at 82 centres throughout the state from 9am.

The current elections will be unlike previous polls, not only because of the ongoing Covid-19 epidemic but also because Sarawak is one of two states – the other being Kelantan – still in phase three of the national recovery plan.

In an effort to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infections, the Election Commission (EC) has determined that only the candidate, proposer and seconder or any two of them will be allowed to enter the nomination centre to submit the candidates’ nomination papers.

The candidates’ supporters will not be allowed entry, and any gathering or procession in show of support for the candidates are banned throughout nomination day.

Candidates are given an hour to submit their nomination papers. In a bid to speed up the process, candidates are urged to fill up their papers and to check if everything is in order with the office of the returning officer or the Sarawak state election office beforehand. 

Candidates and political parties are given 12 days to campaign before polling day on December 18 as set by the EC.

Early voting has been set for December 14.

The standard operating procedure (SOP) for campaigning, however, has yet to be announced.

The Sarawak state elections were postponed after the tenure of the last state legislative assembly ended on June 6 following the emergency proclamation by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah from January 11 to August 1 to stop the spread of Covid-19.

When the emergency ended, the king once again declared a state of emergency in Sarawak from August 2 to February 2, 2022.

The emergency was lifted on November 3, resulting in the automatic dissolution of the state assembly and paving the way for elections. 

Eighty-two state seats are being contested and as of yesterday, an EC spokesman said 1,268 nomination forms have been sold.

The polls will involve 1,252,014 eligible voters – 1,228,858 ordinary voters, 12,585 members of the military and their spouses, 10,458 members of the police force and spouses as well as 113 absentee overseas voters.

There will be 1,951 polling centres with 3,666 voting stations/channels, with 46,565 people appointed to manage the elections. – Bernama, December 5, 2021.