KUALA LUMPUR: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has consented to ending the Emergency in Sarawak, paving the way for state elections to be held.
Istana Negara, in a statement today, said His Majesty had taken into account the views of various quarters, including the prime minister, attorney-general as well as a request from Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Acting Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Azuan Effendy Zairakithnaini said the consent by the King to lift the emergency declared in Sarawak is in line with Articles 40 and 40(1A) of the Federal Constitution.
"It must be explained that, according to Section 2 of the Emergency Ordinance (Essential Powers) (Sarawak) 2021, the emergency proclamation can be lifted earlier than scheduled by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after discussions with the Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri," he said.
The announcement today means the emergency proclaimed in Sarawak has been lifted three months earlier than Feb 2, the initial date for it to end.
The palace said the king's decision to end the emergency in Sarawak was not an easy one as the pandemic situation is complicated and still worrying.
The king had also conveyed his concern on the risk of the spread of Covid-19 if a state election for Sarawak is being held, said Azuan.
However, it had to be done to fulfil democratic needs and to give the people the mandate to choose the state government, said Istana Negara.
"The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is of the view that the nation is still battling the threats of Covid-19 and the spread of the virus which is still at an alarming level.
"The consent by Yang di-Pertuan Agong to lift the emergency proclamation for Sarawak is a difficult and complicated decision.
"However, the consent must be executed to fulfil the need for democracy and to return the power to the people so they can award the mandate for the formation of a new state government.
"The king, nevertheless, stressed that the safety and well-being of the people should remain as priority above any self and political interest," said the statement.
The Sarawak Legislative Assembly was supposed to have been dissolved after completing its term on June 7, but any action of the kind was suspended due to the nationwide state of emergency that took effect from Jan 12.
The king in his proclamation had put in motion a six-month emergency in Sarawak, from Aug 2, 2021 to Feb 2, 2022, in a bid to combat the raging Covid-19 pandemic.
This had also effectively suspended the Sarawak election, which was due within 60 days from Aug 2.
In detailing the meetings that occurred leading up to the King's decision, Azuan said the Agong had granted an audience to Taib at Istana Negara on Tuesday.
"During the audience, the Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri conveyed the intention and request from the Sarawak government for the emergency proclamation in Sarawak to end.
"Today (Wednesday), His Majesty granted a pre-cabinet audience to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob at Istana Negara.
"During the hour-long audience starting 8am, His Majesty consented to the advice of the prime minister to end the emergency declaration for Sarawak."
Azuan said earlier on Tuesday, the King had also met with Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Azizan Harun for a briefing on the same matter.
Also present during the same briefing were Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Election Commission chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh and National Security Council director-general Datuk Rodzi Md Saad.