Minister prefers no open campaign, no open rally during state polls

KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah calls for no open campaign and no open rally to facilitate the next Sarawak state election.

“Not having open campaigning or open rally does not mean that democracy is curtailed,” said the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president.

Abdul Karim pointed out that there were other ways and means that the election candidates could use to promote themselves, especially in this digital era.

“We have seen what had happened in Sabah after they held their snap state election (in September 2020),” said the Asajaya assemblyman.

“In view of Sarawak having to undergo a state election soon, it is advisable for the Election Commission (EC) to find ways to make sure that the ‘mistakes’ made during last Sabah state election would not be repeated.”

Abdul Karim was reacting to the latest comment by Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin about no election-related social gatherings or activities being allowed to facilitate the coming Melaka snap state election, in order to reduce Covid-19 infection among the people there.

Khairy said the order would be in force until this Nov 27.

When contacted yesterday, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) secretary-general Dato Janang Bungsu said he agreed with Khairy.

“Agree that it should be within the stipulated standard operating procedures (SOPs). After all, we are yet to come out from Covid19 problem. Stringent SOPs must be observed to minimise physical contact,” added Janang.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, however, said it would still be premature now to talk about the SOPs for Sarawak election, in view of the state still being under the Emergency Order (EO) until it is lifted on Feb 1 next year.

“The SOPs mentioned therein are for Melaka, during this given time and circumstances. It may be relevant to be imposed on Melaka, but it may or may not be necessary for Sarawak,” said the Marudi assemblyman, who is also Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) vice-president.

“It is also too premature to talk about the SOPs as we have to know when the Emergency is to be lifted and the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) is to be dissolved.

“I am pretty confident that the Ministry of Health (MoH), State Health Department, the SPR and the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee will be duly consulted and SOP formulated, taking all factors and any emerging issue before the decision to call for the PRN12 (12th Sarawak state election) is made,” said Penguang.

Khairy had said, in a media statement, on Sunday: “Based on the monitoring by the Ministry of Health, among the contributors to the increase in cases and Covid-19 clusters in the country were related to the activities of gatherings or social gatherings that did not comply with the SOPs.”

The MoH expected that similar activities would take place leading up to the Melaka state election on Nov 20, said Khairy.

“As the risk of Covid-19 infection is still high, especially with the spread of the Delta variant in the community, and the increasing number of new Covid-19 cases that have been reported, such activities will further increase the risk of Covid-19 infection within the community,” he said.

Last Monday, the EC set Nov 8 as the nomination date for the Melaka state election, with Nov 20 as polling day. Khairy explained that this ban was in line with the list of unauthorised activities (negative list) in the latest SOPs for states under Phase 4 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP).