[ad_1]
PETALING JAYA: Election watchdog Bersih 2.0 has called for careful consideration of any quarantines for those returning to the peninsula from Sabah, saying such a move may deter voters from casting their votes on September 26.
The group’s steering committee said in a statement that voters will also incur additional costs to pay for food and lodging during the quarantine, in addition to the cost of their plane tickets.
“We call on the Minister of Health and the National Security Council to carefully consider before imposing a 14-day quarantine on all returnees from Sabah, given that the outbreaks in Lahad Datu and Tawau are limited to prisons there.
“If necessary, the EC should further tighten the standard operating procedures for the conduct of the elections in Lahad Datu and Tawau to ensure that the outbreak there is well contained,” they said.
Bersih 2.0 also said that in addition to voters, politicians, party workers, Election Commission officials, NGO workers and observers will also be affected by the proposed mandatory quarantine.
Earlier today, Health Minister Dr. Adham Baba said the ministry is studying whether to impose a mandatory quarantine on those returning to the peninsula from Sabah after state elections.
There has been an increase in new Covid-19 infections, with 182 cases reported yesterday involving 181 local infections and one imported case.
The Covid-19 cases in Sabah, involving Benteng’s LD group, recorded 250 cases, with 167 new cases recorded yesterday.
Bersih 2.0 also said that the EC needed to provide vote-by-mail for those who cannot travel home to vote for work or study.
“We call on the EC to give us a defined roadmap for the implementation of vote by mail for all voters from outside the region. This must be done before the next federal and state elections, and especially before the next Sarawak state elections, ”he said.
