KUCHING: The ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition is seeking to hold the state election now rather than next year due to concerns over the possible emergence of new Covid-19 variants, says Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

       He said it was not due to fears of 18 to 21-year-olds being able to vote from January onwards with the implementation of Undi18.

       “We are not afraid of Undi18. In fact, the GPS government amended the state constitution to be in line with Undi18.

       “But what we are afraid of is Covid-19. We don’t know if new variants will appear next year. Nobody can guarantee what will happen,” he said when launching the Bintulu-level Greening Sarawak campaign in Bintulu yesterday.

       Abang Johari said it was better to go back to the people for a fresh mandate now while the Covid-19 situation was manageable.

       “We must have a government with a mandate so that we can continue to help the people through our economic recovery plans,” he said.

       Opposition parties had claimed that GPS was rushing to hold the polls to avoid Undi18.

       The Sarawak legislative assembly was dissolved on Nov 3 following the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s consent to lift the statewide Emergency on the same day, paving the way for the polls to be held within 60 days.

       Earlier in his speech, Abang Johari said the state government was committed to environmental sustainability in its forestry and development policies.

       He said there was a need to balance the development of wood-based industries with preserving the state’s natural forests.

       “This involves industrial forests whereby we plant trees to provide raw materials for the industry.

       “As far as forestry is concerned, our policy is to add trees in degraded forests and to have sustainable raw materials through planted forests,” he said.