KUALA LUMPUR – The government will seek the views of experts before deciding if a state election should be held in Melaka, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said.
Hishammuddin said views will be sought from the National Security Council (NSC), Election Commission (EC) and the Health Ministry (MoH), with Sabah serving as a case reference.
“I will obtain the views of experts on the possible effects of holding a state election in Melaka... we went through a similar situation in Sabah and witnessed the implications. We need to consider this when deciding if Melaka should go to the polls.
“We do not want current or temporary political considerations to jeopardise the larger national agenda, which is to ensure the people’s safety during the Covid-19 pandemic, so what happened in the Sabah election must be considered,” he said at a handover ceremony of food aid by the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry (Mafi) to the Defence Ministry in conjunction with the Mindef Prihatin Basket Programme here today.
Hishammuddin said the EC will hold discussions with the NSC on standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the Melaka election before bringing the matter to the country’s top leadership.
Yesterday, the EC received official notification on the dissolution of the 14th Melaka Legislative Assembly.
This means the state will have to hold a snap election within 60 days.
Speaker Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh announced earlier that Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Rustam had consented to the dissolution on Monday after four Melaka assemblymen declared that they had lost confidence in Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.
Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said the government will not make hasty decisions on interstate travel and would instead prioritise the concept of “reopening safely”.
“The government is being responsible and careful… this is for the people’s safety and to ensure the flexibilities given are based on scientific data that MoH feels comfortable with,” he said.
Present at the event today were Mafi Minister Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee and Defence Forces Chief General Tan Sri Affendi Buang. – Bernama, October 6, 2021
