PUTRAJAYA – After the death of incumbent Datuk Liew Vui Keong, the Election Commission (EC) today decided December 5 as polling day for the federal seat.
EC chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh said nomination day will be on November 23 and early voting on December 1, and campaign duration is set for 12 days.
He added candidates or parties are only allowed to set up one command centre and all ceramah activities are not allowed.
“Candidates and supporters are not allowed to visit voters at home. Walkabouts are not allowed as well.
“Candidates can conduct their campaigns online or through social media platforms, and distribution of campaign materials through post,” he said at a press conference today.
When asked if Sabah’s internet connection can sustain online campaigning, Ghani said he is made to understand that the internet system is very good in Batu Sapi.
“Of course, the remote areas won’t have good internet connection but nowadays given Wi-Fi connectivity is very broad, campaigning online and on social media should not be a problem.”
Barisan Nasional and Parti Cinta Sabah had announced they would not contest the Batu Sapi by-election.
There are 32,962 voters in Batu Sapi, according to the latest electoral roll.
The Batu Sapi seat fell vacant following the sudden death of Liew, who is Warisan chairman. He died on October 2 at a private hospital due to complications after a lung infection.
Liew, 60, was de facto law minister during Pakatan Harapan's rule in federal government. – The Vibes, October 13, 2020
