KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing thinks that the next state election might be held this year.
“However, I can’t confirm that it’ll actually be this year. This is only my guess,” he said.
He noted that the past state elections were held in the fourth year after the previous ones.
Masing said because this is the fourth year since the state election in 2016, this is the time for politicians to start their preparations.
“They seldom wait until the fifth year. After four years, we need to go back to the people and let them decide whether they still want us,” he told reporters after handing over Phase one MRP grant for Baleh state seat in a ceremony held on the fifth floor conference room of Bangunan Baitul Makmur, Petra Jaya, here yesterday.
With all the commotion going on in opposition parties, Masing believes the timing of the state election could favour the ruling coalition.
“The opposition parties have yet to get themselves sorted out, which makes this year the best time to hold the election. Once they are united, we’ll have a tougher fight.
“This is, however, not the main reason for us to hold a state election this year. It’s just that unfortunately for the opposition they are in disarray in the fourth year since the last state election. A nice coincidence, I should say,” said Masing.
On the Federal Village Community Management Council (MPKKP) which Pakatan Harapan wanted to implement in Sarawak, Masing said the initiative was not good.
“This is good for us because MPKKP would divide the people in longhouses and villages,” he said.
Having said that, he hoped that Perikatan Nasional (PN) would not interfere in the coming 12th state election.
“Our main fight will most likely be against Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and the Democratic Action Party (DAP),” he said.
