Adenan discloses he has proposed the dates for the next state election to EC, awaits its decision
Adenan
SANTUBONG: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem took everyone by surprise when he disclosed April 18 as the nomination day and April 30 the polling day for the next state election last night.
Announcing this when launching an election seminar for Satok constituency at Damai Beach Resort, he added he suggested these dates during a meeting with the Election Commission (EC).
“I have already met with EC and decided that April 18 be the nomination day and April 30 the polling day. No more speculations.”
However, when met by the press after the function, Adenan said the dates were just proposed dates and the EC would have the final say on the dates for the polls.
On the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly, the chief minister said he would meet the Head of State on the date.
“He hasn’t fixed a date yet. Once the date is decided, the EC will be informed. It’s for the EC to make the announcement. It is for EC to fix the dates, not me.”
Adenan, who is also state BN and PBB chairman, said BN Sarawak would contest in all 82 seats, and PBB would stand in 40 of them.
“There are 11 new seats, and PBB will contest in five of them. Two each will be allocated to the other component parties.”
He stressed that PBB must win all the 40 seats and that BN Sarawak under his leadership must register a big mandate in the upcoming polls.
“I don’t want a simple majority that PBB wins all 40 seats and plus another few more seats. We want a big mandate, big majority.”
He said he could stand up to Putrajaya if state BN was given a big and strong mandate in the coming election.
However, Adenan said he had not solved the impasse over the distribution of seats between Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and United People’s Party (UPP), and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras). He said the parties had been given chances to reconcile but had failed to sort out their differences for the greater good.
“I will have to settle it for them, but I have not made a decision on this one yet. If you cannot talk among yourselves, you will have to listen to me, then.”
In his speech he appealed to voters in the state to give him another five years.
“I am only asking for five more years, and after that, I don’t want to be the chief minister anymore. I am not after the position.”
Meanwhile, Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How said he was taken aback by Adenan’s announcement of the dates as the chief minister could only advise the Head of State to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly.
“Then SPR (Election Commission) takes over, meets and announces the dates for nomination and polling,” he said in a statement.
When told that Adenan said he had met the EC to propose the dates, See said the commission must not only act independently and fairly but also seen to be so. He added that the chief minister’s announcement showed that the EC was functioning at the dictate of the Barisan Nasional, which was improper and wrong.