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PETALING JAYA: Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa has challenged lawyers to shed light on alternative laws that could be used to postpone elections amid speculation about declaring an emergency.
In a tweet, Annuar responded to an FMT story in which constitutional lawyers criticized the idea of an emergency to combat Covid-19, as the Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Act (Law 342) was sufficient.
Attorneys Andrew Khoo and Lim Wei Jiet had said Law 342 gave the government broad powers that have yet to be exhausted.
Lim also warned that an Emergency would “seriously damage” the country’s already weakened economy and affect investor confidence.
But today Annuar seemed to disagree with the lawyers.
“Please advise which law to use when Batu Sapi voters want the government to postpone the by-elections. What law to use when Sarawakians want state elections postponed for fear of what happened to Sabah.
“And what law to use when 87% of voters indicate they don’t want a general election for fear of the spread of Covid-19.”
Batu Sapi’s by-elections, triggered by the death of his current and former federal minister, Liew Vui Keong, are set for December 5, while the Sarawak state elections are due to take place next year.
