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KOTA KINABALU: Sabah STAR is the latest party to opt out of Batu Sapi’s parliamentary parliamentary elections.
His stance came after both Barisan Nasional and Parti Cinta Sabah said they would stay out of the by-elections to prevent further Covid-19 cases in Sabah.
The seat was declared vacant after its Member of Parliament Datuk Liew Vui Keong from Parti Warisan Sabah passed away due to a suspected lung infection on October 2.
STAR President Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan said that if by-elections were held, they would not be contested.
“In fact, we do not intend to place anyone for the Batu Sapi by-elections because the 15th General Election (GE15) could be held soon anyway,” he said.
Jeffrey said that, for now, it was best to focus on Sabah and the new state cabinet while making sure Covid-19 was contained.
As for the Liberal Democratic Party (PLD), it will only decide whether to present a candidate after the Electoral Commission (EC) announces a date.
“For now, there is still no decision; we will first wait for EC’s announcement and then we will decide, ”said its president Datuk Chin Su Phin.
He said that when the LDP was part of the Barisan coalition, the seat of Batu Sapi was mainly assigned to the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).
“The PLD has never disputed in Batu Sapi,” he said.
Chin said his party would also want to see how the Covid-19 situation unfolds in the next two weeks before making any decisions.
PBS President Datuk Seri, Dr. Maximus Ongkili, said it is still too early to say whether he will introduce anyone.
“The EC said it will need two months to talk about the possible dates of the by-elections, so we will wait,” he said.
Yesterday, Barisan President Datuk Seri, Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said that while he would leave it to the EC to decide the campaign periods and the date of the elections, prosperity and health must be a priority.
On the same day, the general secretary of the PCS, Ansari Abdullah, said that his party would not compete in the Batu Sapi by-elections as it could further spread Covid-19 once the campaign began.
PAS Youth also urged parties in the Muafakat Nasional pact and the Perikatan Nasional coalition, as well as parties in the political division, to refrain from running candidates.
“Let the ruling party win unopposed to prevent the situation from getting worse as the number of Covid-19 cases had risen rapidly after the recent Sabah state elections,” said PAS Deputy Youth Director Ahmad Fadhli Shaari.
“Let it be the status quo for Batu Sapi, for the good of public health.
“A by-election is not a priority now, as people’s lives are too precious to stake,” he added.
EC President Abdul Ghani Salleh had reportedly said that the by-elections could only be delayed if the area was declared a Covid-19 red zone.
He said the commission was required by law to hold elections within 60 days after the death of its head.
“So, within 60 days, the EC must take steps to fill that vacancy unless the government declares the Batu Sapi area a red zone, where the outbreak is so severe that it cannot be controlled and there is an emergency.
“Only then can we consider postponing the by-elections,” he said.
On online voting, Ghani said that amendments to the law would first need to be made before it could be implemented.
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