EC says prepared for Sarawak polls

KUCHING: The Election Commission ( EC) is ready to face the Sarawak state election at any time that it is called, said its deputy chairman Dr Azmi Sharom.

He said once the State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) is dissolved, the EC has up to 60 days from the date of dissolution to hold an election, according to Article 21(1) of the Sarawak Constitution.

“Whenever the DUN is dissolved, a general election shall be held within 60 days from the date of the dissolution and the new DUN shall be summoned to meet on a date not later than 120 days from that date,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Speculation is rife that the 12th Sarawak Election could be held very soon, with rumours suggesting it could be held as early as September.

This was further fueled when the state’s backbone party Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) held a closed-door meeting on Sunday, following a meeting in Putrajaya the day before between Prime Minister Tan

Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg as well as

other leaders of the state’s ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition.

Meanwhile, Azmi said that as of March 31, 2020, there were a total of 1,246,001 registered voters in the state, adding the EC had received 7,310 new registrations of voters from Sarawak in the first quarter of this year.

Asked on the Automatic Voters Registration (AVR), especially for Malaysians who just turned 18 years old, he said it was on track and in line with the EC’s plan to begin implementation by July 2021.

“This involves the preparation of amendments to the Elections (Registration of Electors) Regulations 2002 and other relevant laws, provision of standard operating procedures (SOP) and provision of infrastructure system for the implementation of the 18year-old voters and automatic registration.

“Therefore, those below the age of 21 years old will not be eligible to vote before July 2021,” he said.

The 11th Sarawak Election was held on May 7, 2016, and the next one has to be held by July 2021.

Whenever the DUN is dissolved, a general election shall be held within 60 days from the date of the dissolution and the new DUN shall be summoned to meet on a date not later than 120 days from that date.

Dr Azmi Sharom