GPS women
KUCHING: Women leaders under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) have made thorough preparations to face the state election, including reminding the party’s machineries to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the new norm.
“We hope that the SOP prepared by the Election Commission (EC) later is an enhanced SOP – learning from what happened in Sabah so that it does not happen during Sarawak’s election,” said Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Women chief Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah at a media conference today.
She stressed that the party machinery would have to comply with the SOPs.
“We take care of ourselves and our voters. We want to ensure that we can break the Covid-19 chain,” said the Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister.
Fatimah said it was important to ensure the use of face masks and physical distancing during election proceedings.
“We will help to ensure that voters practise physical distancing and that there are not too many voters at one time,” she said.
While these measures may be challenging, she expressed confidence that the people of Sarawak would strictly comply with the SOP during the state election.
“We are very disciplined people,” she said.
She cited the enforcement of the enhanced movement control order (Emco) at Kampung Haji Baki here as an example, pointing out that the residents there adhered strictly to the SOP in order to curb the spread of Covid-19.
On another note, Fatimah hoped that women leaders – be they elected representatives, ministers, or assistant ministers – would be good examples to instil confidence in the people.
“We have to be exemplary in terms of our leadership and work performance. We have to give confidence that women are capable to provide the best service for the people while also contributing to the process of building our nation,” she said.
On the question of new faces in the state election, she said this was the prerogative of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg but expressed her hope that there would be more women candidates nominated to contest.
