Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem – File photo
SANTUBONG: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem has announced the proposed dates of the next election in a surprise move at an election seminar for N8 Satok today.
Adenan said he had met with the Election Commission (EC) and set the proposed dates of April 18 as nomination day and April 30 for polling.
The Chief Minister said Sarawakians would cast their votes on April 30 and celebrations could be expected on May 1, which is a public holiday.
“I have already met with the EC and decided that April 18 will be the nomination day and April 30 the polling day.
“After polling on April 30, we will have celebrations on May 1,” he said.
Adenan, who is also state BN and PBB chairman, said BN Sarawak would contest in all 82 seats while PBB would stand in 40 of them.
“We have 11 new seats and PBB will contest in five of them. Two each will be allocated to the other component parties,” he added.
Met by the press, Adenan reiterated the dates are just proposed dates, and did not announce the dissolution of the state assembly.
He said he would meet the governor regarding the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly.
“He hasn’t fixed a date yet,” he said, adding that once the date was decided, the EC would be informed.
Asked if dissolution would be in February or March, Adenan laughed before adding: “It will be before April.”
“It’s for the EC to make the announcement. It is for EC to fix the dates, not for me,” he said.