S’wak party agrees with GPS on lifting emergency

KUCHING: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB) agrees that the emergency order in Sarawak be lifted and asked Gabugan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to go ahead to write to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Its president Bobby William said while the emergency may prevent or stop election amid the Covid-19 pandemic, it is bad for the economy as well.

The people are looking for food on the table, he added, and their movement may be restricted by laws passed any time during the emergency.

Bobby, however, said PBDSB would only agree for an election to be called if the Covid-19 pandemic is up to manageable level.

"But the GPS government must be clear about manageable level. What is the manageable level? Is it 10 cases a day or five or zero cases?

"The current situation in Sarawak is just not right to hold election. Yesterday's (Friday) positive cases was a record for Sarawak.

"Now, is the Pasai Cluster at manageable level?" he said in response to the statement by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing that Sarawak State cabinet members plan to appeal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to lift the emergency order in Sarawak if the Covid-19 situation in the state can be brought to a manageable level.

Bobby also brought up another issue concerning whether the Election Commission (EC) is ready with the manpower to make sure a fair election can be held amid the pandemic.

What are the SOPs? Can big ceramah by the roadsides, in villages or longhouses be held? he asked.

"We are concerned about the safety of the rural voters if election has to be held amid the pandemic.

"What is the GPS and EC's assurance that Sarawak will not experience the same fate as Sabah after the election?" he warned.