Only Abang Jo can determine Sarawak polls date, says Karim

“The prerogative and discretion to dissolve the state assembly is on (the premier),” PBB information chief Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was quoted by Dayak Daily as saying.

Karim was responding to Gabungan Parti Sarawak vice-chairman and deputy premier Dr Sim Kui Hia who hinted that the next state election will be held before the final quarter of the year.

Sim, who is Sarawak United Peoples’ Party president, recently urged party members to prepare for intensified political activity and ramp up efforts to engage the public as they will be “fighting the war less than 100 days from now”.

Hazmah said as far as he was concerned, the 100 days Sim had cited was merely a projection. “It could happen within 100 days, or it could be later. What we know for sure is that the election has to be held this year.”

He, however, did not dismiss Sim’s projection, saying it was possible if political circumstances change, citing developments in Peninsular Malaysia, where Johor and Negeri Sembilan had recently dissolved their state assemblies.

‘Delay over new seats shows disrespect’

Karim also said he was disappointed over the delay in approving 17 additional state seats approved by the state assembly, suggesting that Parliament was disrespecting the assembly’s decision.

He said although a year had passed since the motion to expand the state assembly from 82 to 99 seats was adopted, it had yet to be tabled in Parliament for endorsement, despite three sittings being held since.

Karim also said law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said had not brought the matter to Parliament.