March 28, 2010, Sunday
State and parliamentary elections may or may not be held together – Taib
WORDS OF WISDOM: Taib talks with Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Fadillah Yusof (right). At left is Housing and Urban Development Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.
KUCHING: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is open-minded about recent talks that the next state election might be held concurrently with a snap general election.
Speaking to journalists after chairing a Barisan Nasional (BN) meeting yesterday, he said he did not rule out the possibility that the elections could be held at the same time.
“It is all possible. I cannot read what’s in the prime minister’s mind as I cannot read mine yet,” he said when met at the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters by Jalan Bako near here.
Taib, who is Sarawak BN chairman and PBB president, said he had nothing against the idea of having state and parliamentary elections together.
He, however, added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had yet to touch on election matters during the meetings they had had.
“As far as the law is concerned, it is okay. But the prime minister has got to calculate his move and so do I. If the two coincide, I can accept it.”
Whether it is good to call a snap election given Najib’s rising popularity, Taib said: “Yeah, very good. You tell him that.”
Taib said he had come across an article stating that he was attempting to regain lost ground. He found this rather entertaining.
He also stressed that he was not a fan of unexpected decision on serious matters such as an election.
“Somebody wrote that I am trying to recover lost ground. PBB does not need to recover any lost ground, so I do not know.
“But I do not make any sudden move; that is one thing. I do not know why people say I want to make a sudden move,” he said with a wide grin.
During the PBB triennial delegates assembly early this month, Taib was tight-lipped about when he would call for the next state election although he did admit that delegates of the party were talking election issues during the convention.
Taib, who is also Finance Minister, said the party was election-ready as far as its machinery and members are concerned.
Still, he was rather amused when delegates discussed election issues during the convention.
“Everyone, in fact, is talking about an election. That is very funny. They are very keen, so I told them they can start getting the machinery ready.
“I may call it earlier or later, depending on the inspiration I get,” he said after speaking during PBB convention at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here on March 4.
To date, Sarawak is the only state holding state and parliamentary elections separately.
Speculations have it that the tenth state polls could be expected later this year.
The ninth state election was held in 2006.
(sumber: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=19929)
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