SIBU: Members of Pakatan Harapan have been reminded to be fully prepared as Sarawak may hold its state election this year.
Sarawak PKR chief Ahmad Nazib Johari said the party must be ready to contest and strengthen its position ahead of both the Sarawak state election and the next general election.
“We must be prepared because this year, we may face the state election.
“The question is, are we ready to fight?” he said when speaking at the Lanang PKR Chinese New Year gala dinner on Sunday.
He expressed hope that potential candidates present at the event would equip themselves and work towards reinforcing the party’s grassroots machinery.
“With the candidates who are here tonight, I hope they will be ready, strengthen their respective branches and fortify the party.
“When the election is called, we must be able to enter the contest confidently and uphold the democratic process,” he said.
In the 2021 Sarawak state election held on Dec 18, 2021, Pakatan did not win in any of the 28 seats it contested.
Ahmad Nazib also touched on national issues, noting that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was giving serious attention to education, particularly in Sarawak.
“In the current situation, the Prime Minister is very concerned about education. We see many areas in our towns and rural regions affected by dilapidated schools and inadequate facilities.
“The government is taking the initiative to focus on repairing and upgrading dilapidated schools and complete what is lacking in the education sector in Sarawak,” he said.
Ahmad Nazib also called on party members to play a proactive role in identifying shortcomings in their respective areas.
“I urge everyone present tonight to cooperate by becoming the eyes and ears on the ground. Inform us of what is lacking – whether it is roads, utilities, schools or government assistance.
“Only with accurate information from the grassroots can we effectively channel the needs of the people to the leadership,” he added.
Lanang PKR chief Michael Lee also spoke at the function.
Meanwhile, Batang Sadong MP Rodiyah Sapiee said the proposal to hold concurrent national and state elections deserves serious and constructive consideration.
She said that from a governance standpoint, electoral synchronisation offers clear advantages in terms of fiscal prudence, administrative efficiency, democratic participation and political stability.
“Holding separate elections within a short period would involve substantial administrative, logistical and security expenditures,” she said when contacted.
She was responding to The Star’s front-page report yesterday, which highlighted that with Malaysia facing staggered state polls this year and a looming general election next year, federal lawmakers across party lines are calling for simultaneous elections to curb non-stop politicking and ensure national stability.
