PUTRAJAYA – The Election Commission (EC) conforms with the proclamation of emergency declaration for the Gerik parliamentary constituency in Perak and the Bugaya state constituency in Sabah, in effect cancelling the by-elections for both seats, said its chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh.
The proclamation of emergency declaration based on Clause (1) of Article 150 of the Federal Constitution allows an ordinance to be proclaimed under Clause (2B) of Article 150 to revoke the date set for the by-elections for Gerik parliamentary seat and Bugaya state seat, once it receives consent from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, he said.
“Following this declaration, any proceedings that have begun for the purpose of holding the by-election for P.054 Gerik, Perak, and N.66 Bugaya, Sabah, will not be continued and another date will be set for the by-elections,” said Ghani in a statement today.
The EC had previously set the two by-elections to be held simultaneously on January 16 following the deaths of the incumbents of the two constituencies. The nomination date of the candidates is set on January 4 while January 12 is the early voting date.
In a statement today, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that the king has consented to declare a state of emergency for the two by-elections after studying the explanation presented by the prime minister: that there is a need to declare a proclamation of emergency based on Clause (1) Article 150 of the Federal Constitution.
Muhyiddin said that the cabinet had, on December 4, discussed in detail the impact of the Gerik and Bugaya by-elections, if held while Covid-19 is still spreading in the country.
The Gerik by-election is necessitated by the death of Datuk Hasbullah Osman on November 16 due to heart disease, while the Bugaya by-election follows the death of Manis Muka Mohd Darah on November 17 due to complications from kidney disease.
On November 18, the king declared a proclamation of emergency for P.185 Batu Sapi, Sabah, thus cancelling the by-election as a proactive measure to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Batu Sapi by-election was necessitated by the death of incumbent Datuk Liew Vui Keong on October 2 due to a lung infection, and the EC had previously set the nomination day for the Batu Sapi by-election on November 23, polling day on December 5 and early voting on December 1.
In Perak, new Menteri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad said that the proclamation of emergency declaration for the Gerik parliamentary seat by-election will definitely help curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, even though the area is located in the Pengkalan Hulu district, which is a green zone.
Saarani, who is also the Kota Tampan assemblyman, said that there will be an influx of people from outside the district, increasing risks of infection, if the Gerik by-election is held.
“Gerik area is a green zone, but we need to take into account what happened in Sabah when there was free movement during elections.
“If there is no contest, then it will be okay, but if there is a contest, it will involve movement,” he said when met by reporters after presenting the Perak Budget 2021 at the Perak Darul Ridzuan Building today.
Meanwhile, state DAP chairman Nga Kor Ming, without further comment, said Pakatan Harapan welcomed the Emergency Proclamation.
Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said that the declaration of an emergency in Bugaya was timely so as not to aggravate the health crisis and avoid losing more lives due to Covid-19 in the state.
“Sabah BN welcomes and supports the declaration of emergency to postpone the Bugaya by-election.
“BN and Umno Sabah had previously decided to not field candidates for the Bugaya by-election if it continued as planned,” he said in a WhatsApp statement today.
On the same note, Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor, who is also the state Perikatan Nasional chairman, said the most important thing now is to flatten the curve and break the chain of Covid-19 infections in the state.
“Covid-19 continues to be a threat to the health of the Sabahans, and this move is crucial to save people’s lives,” he added. – Bernama, December 16, 2020
