KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has given royal assent to ending the Emergency proclaimed in Sarawak, Istana Negara said today.
Acting Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Azuan Effendy Zairakithnaini said the Agong made the decision following an audience with both Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Azizan Harun.
The Agong also met with Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Election Commission chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh and National Security Council director-general Datuk Rodzi Saad over the matter.
“Hence, after considering the application of the Sarawak governor and studying the prime minister’s advice, the attorney general’s presentation, and the views of the heads of the government agencies, His Majesty the Agong consented to lifting the Emergency in Sarawak,” Azuan said in a statement.
The end of the Emergency would require Sarawak to hold a state election within 60 days as the term of the legislative assembly there expired in June.
Lifting the Emergency ahead of the original February 2 expiry was the Agong’s prerogative, which he exercised following the meeting with Sarawak Governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, the palace official said.
However, the Agong remained concerned about the risk of a new wave of Covid-19 infections should the Sarawak state election be held, as he believed the pandemic was still severe in the country, Azuan added.
“His Majesty’s assent to end the Emergency was a difficult decision. However, it was granted to fulfil democratic requirements and return the power to the people to deliver a new mandate for a new government.”
The Emergency in Sarawak was proclaimed in August, after a previous proclamation covering the entire country was lifted.
The proclamation had allowed the state to delay the state election that it would have needed to hold within 60 days of June 6, when the term of the 18th Sarawak assembly expired automatically.
Sarawak Opposition parties previously urged the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak coalition not to seek an early end to the Emergency to trigger the state election, warning that this would unnecessarily expose voters to Covid-19 risks.
