Sarawak’s voting pattern a litmus test for Barisan Nasional in general election
A party worker staking up boxes of election materials at PBB headquarters in Kuching yesterday. — Photo by Peter Sibon
KUCHING: All eyes will be on Sarawak this coming state election as the outcome of the polls could set the tone for the 2018 general election.
According to State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, the 11th state polls will be historic and momentous as it will involve 82 state constituencies for the first time.
“The whole of Malaysia is focusing on Sarawak. The state election will create a momentum as well as set the tone for the 2018 general election,” he told a press conference at the DUN complex here yesterday.
In the 2011 state polls, the opposition pact managed to double its seat tally though Barisan Nasional (BN) won 55 out of 71 seats contested and retained its two-thirds majority.
In the 2013 general election, the opposition pact increased its parliamentary seats in the state to six, while BN won 25 out of 31 constituencies contested.
This time around, the opposition is determined to make inroads into the rural constituencies but with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s popularity riding high, it is interesting to see how the opposition pact would fare in the state election.
With 71 state seats, prior to the latest delineation exercise which resulted in 11 new state seats, Asfia said the State Legislative Assembly was already the biggest in the country.
He also disclosed that the Sarawak Legislative Assembly first convened on Sept 8, 1867 in Bintulu, making it the oldest in the country.
On another note, Asfia revealed that the State Legislative Assembly had sent an official letter of dissolution to the Election Commission (EC) yesterday via post and a copy of the letter was faxed in the morning.
“I have informed EC chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah this morning, by way of a letter dated today (April 1, 2016) with regards to the dissolution of the DUN – for EC to take the necessary action in particular to announce the dates of nomination day and polling day.
“I have sent the letter by fax. The instrument of dissolution will be sent by Poslaju. Therefore I leave this matter in the safe hands of EC for further necessary action,” he continued.
The instrument of dissolution was signed by Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud on March 31, stating that the dissolution shall take effect on April 11, 2016.
The instrument of dissolution is in tandem with Article 21 (2) of the State Constitution, which reads: ‘The Yang Di-Pertua Negeri may prorogue or dissolve the Dewan Undangan Negeri’.
Asfia also explained that under Article 21 (4) of the State Constitution, a general election must be held within 60 days after the DUN is dissolved and the new State Legislative Assembly must convene on a date not later than 120 days from the date of dissolution.
“We are pleased that the governor has numerologically chosen April 11, 2016 as the date of the DUN dissolution. Eleven signifies 11 new additional seats and that this would be the 11th state election. The number coincides with 11-11-11,” he added.
When asked if he would contest in the upcoming state election, Asfia said he had not seen the list of candidates. However, he clarified that in England, the speaker must be an elected member of the House of Commons. But under the State Constitution, he continued, the speaker may or may not be an elected member and the deputy speaker must be an elected representative.
Also present were deputy speaker Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn and DUN secretary Supian Tarmizi Mohd Tazuddin.