KAPIT: The dates announced by the Election Commission (EC) for the 15th General Election (GE15) is an appropriate date, said Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary-general said that the campaign period within two weeks is suitable and sufficient, especially for rural areas in Sarawak and Sabah.
“These rural areas were huge and connectivity rather difficult. So, the 14 days period is very suitable, not too short and not too long.
“It will give space and opportunity to voters, especially those who are outside the area to go back and fulfil their responsibilities as voters,” he said when asked to comment on the EC announcement today.
Earlier yesterday, EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh announced that the GE15 nomination day is on Nov 5 and polling day on Nov 19, and both are Saturdays.
Touching on GPS’s strategy for GE15, Nanta who is also the secretary-general of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) said that GPS is always ready to face the election.
“Since the State Election (SE) which was held less than a year ago, GPS representatives are always on the ground; all the state reps are always on the ground helping the respective Member of Parliament (MP) and this is what our preparations look like,” he said.
Meanwhile, on the monsoon season in Sarawak, Nanta noted that the rural area especially Kapit is indeed vast and some of them are still using river transportation as some of the areas have no road connectivity.
“We are aware of the challenges, and we are ready and prepared with everything needed (for election), since we predicted that the elections will be held in the monsoon season,” he said.
The Kapit incumbent-cum-caretaker Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP), also reminded voters to be adequately prepared.
“When they are told later through the notices distributed the time and date of voting, they should be ready to reach the place.
“But it seems that so far in the rural areas, polling stations are often placed in a suitable area where nearby villages or longhouses can easily go to the schools in those areas.
“So, I don’t see any problems, if there is a monsoon season, we are ready, GPS is ready, we should be ready to help the voters to avoid unwanted incidents,” he stressed.
