KUALA LUMPUR: The Election Commission (EC) today confirmed that the Sarawak state election has been postponed since a state of emergency declared nationwide since Jan 11 is still in place.
Its secretary Datuk Ikmalrudin Ishak also confirmed that the commission has received an official notification on the tenure of the 18th term of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, which was supposed to end today (June 6).
Ikmalrudin in a statement said the official notification was sent to the commission by Sarawak Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar.
"According to Section 15 of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021, throughout the state of emergency period, the provision to call, prorogue and dissolve the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly does not have any effect and will be set at a date that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong thinks fit after consultation with the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak.
"Meanwhile, Section 13 of the same Ordinance provides that the State Legislative Assembly during the state of emergency period does not have any effect and that the Sarawak state election must be called on a date that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after consultation with the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak thinks fit.
"Due to the state of emergency declaration promulgated by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Jan 11 and the provision under Section 13 that are still being enforced, the Sarawak state election will be postponed," read the statement.
Earlier today, Bernama reported that the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly will continue to function until Aug 1 this year by virtue of the declaration of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021.
Asfia had said that pursuant to Article 21(3) of the Sarawak State Constitution, the tenure of the state legislative assembly would end today, but this provision has been temporarily suspended because it is superseded by the Emergency Ordinance 2021 promulgated by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
"(But due to the Emergency) the state legislative assembly and all its 82 honourable members and the Cabinet ministers will continue to perform their duties and responsibilities under the umbrella and protection of the Emergency Ordinance," said Asfia in a statement to Bernama.
It was reported that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah on May 25 had advised the Sarawak state government to continue functioning as usual though the tenure for the state legislative assembly ends on June 6.
He said the state government has the power to continue functioning during the state of emergency period as allowed by His Majesty through the Emergency declaration, which is effective from Jan 11 to Aug 1, 2021.
The last Sarawak state polls was held on May 7, 2016 after the dissolution of the state legislative assembly on April 11 during the same year.
After the previous state polls concluded, the 18th Sarawak state legislative assembly first met on June 7, 2016.
The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly comprises 68 assemblymen from Gabungan Parti Sarawak, six from Parti Sarawak Bersatu, DAP (5), two independents and one vacant seat.