Bersih Sarawak questions SDMC’s involvement in drafting election SOPs

KUCHING: Bersih Sarawak has questioned the involvement of the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) in the drafting of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the 12th state election.

In a statement, Bersih Sarawak chairwoman Ann Teo said the clean and fair election advocacy group is uneasy over SDMC’s statement claiming it is in the process of drafting and coming up with the election SOPs.

“Under Article 113 of the Federal Constitution, it is the Election Commission (EC) which is mandated to conduct elections, which includes drafting and setting of SOPs,” she said.

She pointed out other agencies, be it federal or state, can and should only be consulted by the EC to come up with suitable and appropriate SOPs to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection.

Teo said this is also to uphold the integrity of the process and to make elections as inclusive as possible so that all categories of voters can participate in it.

SDMC chairman Datuk Amar Jaul Samion had reportedly said the state agency is actively studying the just-concluded Melaka state election and elections in the past.

Jaul said all factors were being taken into account in formulating the SOPs and SDMC had been in close discussions with the Ministry of Health for the SOPs to be refined before being finalised and made public.

Teo asked whether the Sarawak government, which is currently a caretaker government, is taking over the role of the EC in coming up with the necessary SOPs.

“If so, would it not be a conflict of interest for SDMC and the current caretaker government to have a hand in the drafting of these SOPs when they are also contesting in the same election?”