State polls next year untrue – Dr Rundi

KUCHING: State BN secretarygeneral Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said it is unlikely that Sarawak would call for an election next year.

He said the rumours which started circulating after the May 5 general elections were mere speculations as there had been no discussions on this matter at all.

“I am doubtful that it (state election) would happen (next year),” he said when contacted by The Borneo Post yesterday.

"As far as I know, there has been no agreement with the federal government that Sarawak should have concurrent elections with the whole nation.

“In addition, there has been no discussion or talk on it at this point in time.”

I am doubtful that it (state election) would happen (next year). Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, State BN secretary-general

Word from the grapevine is that the state would be holding its 11th state election next year so that by 2018 it would be able to hold both state and general elections concurrently, like what is happening in other states.

The state held its 10th state election in April 2011, meaning the term of its current State Legislative Assembly would only expire in 2016.

Dr Rundi, who is also Kemena assemblyman, said Barisan Nasional was not all about politicking.

“It is about serving the people. With the elections now over, it's time to serve the people and fulfil BN's promises.”

He added that many state BN leaders were now taking a breather as the just-concluded 13th general election had been a bruising period.

Dr Rundi admitted that he was fed up with Pakatan Rakyat's boasts of taking over the government before the polls.

Since 1979, Sarawak has been the only state in the country to hold its state election on a different date. The others hold it concurrently with the general election.

According to former SUPP president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr Wong Soon Kai, the state BN government decided to take this path as it wanted to disassociate itself from the politics of peninsular Malaysia.