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KUALA LUMPUR: In a move to prevent a possible fourth wave of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia, Malaysian King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah agreed to declare a state of emergency in Batu Sapi to postpone the next – election, scheduled for December 5.
A statement released by the palace comptroller Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin on Wednesday night (November 18) said the king accepted the emergency declaration after an hour-long meeting with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
Muhyiddin met with the king last month to present a proposal to declare a state of emergency in Malaysia, in light of the increase in COVID-19 cases and political instability. The king, after consulting with other Malaysian rulers, said there was no need to declare a state of emergency in Malaysia at that time.
Article 150 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia stipulates that the King of Malaysia may issue an emergency proclamation with the advice of the Prime Minister if he is convinced that there is a serious emergency whereby security, economic life or public order is compromised. are threatened.
READ: COVID-19: No need to declare state of emergency at this time, says King of Malaysia
Following the announcement of the palace on Wednesday, Muhyiddin gave a live speech to explain the decision of the emergency proclamation in Batu Sapi.
He said the decision was made after a cabinet meeting on November 13 and was made in the interest of public health.
“In making the decision, the Cabinet had taken into account the spread of the pandemic in Sabah as a result of the state elections that took place in September,” Muhyiddin said.
While the Election Commission (EC) could establish strict standard operating procedures (SOPs), compliance with those SOPs has been found to be weak, Muhyiddin said.
Additionally, poll workers have also raised concerns that they may be infected, Muhyiddin said. As of November 6, the commission had only appointed 143 people on duty, 17.1 percent of the 837 people needed to hold the by-elections.
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Muhyiddin also noted that the event would involve the movement of voters and service personnel in the districts, which went against the current conditional movement control order (CMCO).
Other factors included a large number of citizens aged 60 and over, who accounted for 22.3 percent of the 32,962 registered voters in the parliamentary constituency.
Malaysian King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah (right) granted an audience to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on November 18, 2020 (Photo: Facebook / Istana Negara).
Another factor that the cabinet considered was the possible social and economic impact on the residents of Batu Sapi and the larger Sandakan district if the pandemic were to spread exponentially after the by-elections.
“We do not want to jump into new cases in Batu Sapi and Sabah if this pandemic spreads after the by-elections are held. This will threaten the efforts of our leaders who are largely fatigued from long fighting this pandemic, ”added Mr. Muhyiddin.
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Muhyiddin also said that there would be no curfew or martial law at Batu Sapi.
“The lives of those who live in Batu Sapi will not be affected by this emergency declaration, there is no curfew and no martial law in Batu Sapi. Government administration, economic and social activities may be carried out subject to new normal rules and practices and standard operating procedures under the CMCO in force in Sabah. “
Muhyiddin said that by-elections would take place once the pandemic was over.
“Once the by-elections are held in the future, voters will be able to exercise their democratic rights in a more secure and peaceful situation,” he said.
The Ministry of Health reported 660 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, bringing Malaysia’s total number of cases to 50,390. There were also four new deaths, bringing the total deaths to 322.
In addition to the Batu Sapi by-elections now canceled, another parliamentary seat in Perak and a state seat in Sabah are also now vacant, following the deaths of deputy Gerik Hasbullah Osman and state legislator from Bugaya Manis Muaka Mohd Darah respectively.
Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan), the Sabah-centric party that previously held Batu Sapi, issued a statement under its chairman Mohd Sahfie Apdal, thanking the king for royal consent to declare an emergency in the parliamentary constituency.
“His Majesty has used his wisdom in declaring the emergency.
“By carrying out democratic processes, you cannot play with the health of the people and, in fact, you must prioritize in the situation of the country at the moment, which is still fighting against the spread of COVID-19,” said Shafie .
He added that the party hoped the government would find the best method to ensure a new date is set and inform residents when the emergency period ends.
“Warisan hopes that the right of Batu Sapi voters to elect their representative will be fulfilled once infections can be controlled and the emergency is lifted,” Shafie said as well.
