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Muhyiddin Yassin |
KUALA LUMPUR, October 31 – After his proposal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was rejected, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today that the upcoming Sarawak state elections and Batu Sapi by-elections will still have to take place amid Covid -19 unless it is an emergency. it declares.
Citing the Federal Constitution, the prime minister said that the elections will still have to continue, but noted the concerns of Electoral Commission (EC) staff who fear contracting Covid-19 while serving during the elections.
“If you ask me, there should be no elections now as Covid-19 cases are on the rise, however we cannot cancel it unless we declare a state of emergency,” Muhyiddin said today during a surprise speech.
The Federal Constitution establishes that elections must be held within 60 days after the EC’s declaration of the position of Batu Sapi vacant or the dissolution of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.
However, the Sarawak assembly will not automatically dissolve until June next year, allowing state elections to be held until August next year.
This comes as Sarawak’s Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg said earlier this month that he does not care if the state holds its elections later than before in light of the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country.
Meanwhile, the Batu Sapi by-elections will be held on December 5, but since then most parties have withdrawn from contesting them to make way for the current Parti Warisan Sabah.
Muhyiddin’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia is among those who have yet to announce their intention.
Last week, Muhyiddin and his cabinet tried to request that Agong proclaim a state of emergency, a decision that was rejected by Agong after a speech with the Conference of Rulers.
Since elections are inevitable, Muhyiddin said he has let the EC determine the necessary SOPs, bearing in mind that voter turnout could also be low.
“Voter turnout may be low, but that is democracy,” Muhyiddin said.
“We will not be able to prevent people from crossing state and district borders or from Peninsular Malaysia. It is your right to vote. The EC president told us that many of his staff members are concerned about working while the pandemic is still rampant, but that we have no choice but to continue.
Muhyiddin also moved to answer questions from the public who have been asking why the government does not test all people traveling to vote in Sarawak and Batu Sapi, which is currently a red zone.
“Well, who will bear the costs of all these tests?” Muhyiddin asked.
“Do our laboratories have the capacity to handle all the samples? Not only that, being tested for Covid-19 does not mean that you will not be infected later. The virus is in the community and many people who have the virus show no symptoms.
“So I implore you all to please take care of yourself. Be disciplined whether at work or elsewhere. I have heard of many cases in workplaces, so strictly follow standard operating procedures when outside, ”he added.
Earlier this month, Muhyddin had admitted that the campaign for the recent Sabah state elections was among the likely causes of the recent Covid-19 spike.
However, Director General of Health Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah has since said that the elections themselves are not to blame for the increase, but rather the lack of compliance with Covid-19 regulations by part of the public. –MalayMail
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