KUALA LUMPUR: The Proclamation of Emergency, which has been extended statewide for Sarawak until Feb 2 next year, is necessary to postpone the state election, to avoid the Covid-19 pandemic from becoming more severe.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO), in a statement today (Sat), said this means that the Sarawak election will not be held throughout the emergency period, unless the proclamation is lifted earlier than scheduled.
"The cabinet during its meeting on July 21 has agreed to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to consent the Proclamation of Emergency statewide for Sarawak after the current state of emergency lapses on Aug 1.
"Therefore, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has discussed with the Sarawak government to consent the Proclamation of Emergency for the state, which is effective from Aug 2 this year until Feb 2, 2022," read the statement.
Bernama had reported earlier today that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has proclaimed a six-month emergency for Sarawak, thus suspending the state election for the period.
In a Government Gazette dated July 30, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong decreed the emergency is to suspend the state election in order to prevent any further increase in the spread of Covid-19 if the polls were held.
If the state of emergency lapses, the Sarawak polls would have been required to be held within 60 days from Aug 2.