KUCHING: The proclamation of Emergency for Sarawak is the best approach to contain the Covid-19 pandemic in the state which is still worrying, said Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi.
The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president said the proclamation was expected in order to ensure that Sarawak’s 12th State Election (PRN-12) is not held in the near future.
“We abide by this declaration and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has also informed that the election cannot be held if the Covid-19 cases are still high,” he said yesterday when commenting on the announcement on the Emergency.
He said that Sarawak’s PRN-12 could not be held at this time as the state had not achieved herd immunity yet.
“It is not suitable to hold the election now as the cases are still high and we have not achieved herd immunity,” said the Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs and DBKU).
He added that the state government through the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) was working to provide vaccines to 2.2 million eligible people in the state.
At the same time, Dr Abdul Rahman said preparations to face Sarawak’s PRN-12 had been carried out for a long time.
“This proclamation is not an advantage to Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), as we have already been working on our preparations for a long time. After the last election, we have continued to move until now,” he explained.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has decreed that the proclamation of Emergency was to suspend Sarawak’s state election to prevent further Covid-19 transmissions.
