COMMENT | In two weeks, June 6 to be exact, the five-year term of the Sarawak legislative assembly will expire. This means that the term of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government is also up.

Constitutionally, fresh elections must be held within 60 days of the expiry date. This will take us to Aug 5.

The national emergency is supposed to end on Aug 1. Assuming it is not extended and barring any other constitutional exigencies, the Sarawak polls must be held by Aug 5.

However, that is unlikely to happen due to one key factor – the deteriorating Covid-19 pandemic. The increasing number of fatalities and positive cases is alarming and the appearance of new variants that are more aggressive and more infectious is of great concern.

There is a general consensus in Sarawak today that an election should not be held and that is the right and only sensible decision.

Seven months ago, I had written here that no one in Sarawak wants a state election now. Politics and elections are furthest from their minds. Their priorities are their safety and health and how to help contain the deadly virus.

From my feedback, I’m glad that politicians from both sides in my home state are agreeable to...