No snap state election – Abang Johari

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Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg (file photo)

 

KUCHING: Sarawak is not preparing to hold any snap state election despite the recent change of political landscape at the national level.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said Sarawak government will continue to be committed to fulfilling election promises made in 2016.

As such, he dismissed any notion that Sarawak would see a snap election in the near future.

“What were promised during the last state election would carry on. There is no snap election, not that I know of,” he said in response to a question posed during a news conference after he chaired the PBB Supreme Council meeting at the party’s headquarters here.

Abang Johari, who is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president, appeared to be taken aback by the question on whether Sarawak will be having  a snap election soon.

“Says who? I don’t know about it,” he quipped.

He immediately pointed out that “development is on the way” and “GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) is a responsible party”.

He then advised the media ‘jangan pusing-pusing’ (not to spin the story) when it came to election matters.

The 11th state election was called on May 7, 2016 when then-Barisan Nasional (BN) Sarawak was under the leadership of the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem.

The ruling coalition in Sarawak won 72 out of the 82 seats, wresting Batu Kawah, Repok, Meradong, Dudong and Piasau — all Chinese-majority seats — from Democratic Action Party (DAP).

Not only did they recapture these seats, the 10 seats that are still in the hands of the opposition also registered reduced majority.

The next state election is expected to be called by 2021.