KUCHING: The latest speculation now is that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem will call for the 11th state election after tabling the State Budget in November.
“Well, election can be called any time after I table the State Budget in November,” Adenan told The Borneo Post at his office in Wisma Bapa Malaysia after tabling his speech on the 11th Malaysia Plan at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) here yesterday.
He said what was important now was for the 11 new seats to be approved by Parliament so that they could be included in coming state polls.
Adenan disclosed that he had talked to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak about these 11 new seats, and he (Najib) would be tabling it in Parliament sometime in October.
“Yes, I have mentioned it to him, and he will table it in Parliament. That’s the procedure.”
The 11 new seats are Batu Kitang, Stakan, Serembu, Triboh, Gedong, Kabong, Tellian, Selirik, Murum, Samalaju and Long Lama.
On the excellent rating he had received from independent research centre Merdeka Centre, Adenan said it was good for him but he had to ensure that all the four BN components parties in the state performed to expectations.
“But that is only for me, I cannot carry the rest.”
On how he gauged the BN in the coming polls, he replied he would not take anything for granted.
“For the coming state election, I will never take things for granted. Now that I seemed to be very popular, I am humbled by it. I will not be arrogant. I have warned my people not to be arrogant.”
Adenan reiterated that the BN would be fielding several new faces.
“Some will have to go while some have indicated to me they wanted to retire. Some have indicated they still want one more term. Some I just have to persuade them to withdraw.”
Meanwhile, Adenan said realistically Sarawak could only achieve developed status by 2030 as it is a big state and was still far lagging behind the peninsula.
“You can do that if your growth is 8.5 per cent. I don’t think we can achieve that. We are behind the national one.
“For that Malaya could achieve developed status by 2020, ours can be achieved 10 years after that, in 2030, in terms of physical development and infrastructure.”