KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar agrees that special standard operating procedures (SOPs) must be set by the Election Commission (EC) for the state polls.
He said he supported the call by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg that there must proper SOPs for the 12th state polls to be held in a safe environment.
“The state election cannot be avoided as the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) term will end soon. The question now is on when election will be called,” he told New Sarawak Tribune today.
The Santubong MP said the same could not be said for the general election.
“If they make the wrong step, if Parliament is dissolved and election is held throughout the country during the Covid-19 pandemic, it will not be easy.
“Unless the EC is fully transformed, for instance in the methods of campaigning and voting…, we will suffer.”
On the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s decree that all politicians should cease all forms of politicking, Wan Junaidi said: “That is a good advice. Well, we (politicians) in Sarawak are all right. But I hope politicians in Semenanjung will listen to the King’s advice.
“We must not quarrel among ourselves as now is not the right time, especially in this Covid-19 situation,” he said.
Wan Junaidi, who is also Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister, said politicians should learn from the recent Sabah polls which resulted in a steep hike in Covid-19 cases.
