[UPDATED] Emergency declared in Batu Sapi, Dec 5 by-election cancelled

KUALA LUMPUR – Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has agreed to proclaim a state of emergency in Batu Sapi, Sabah, effectively cancelling the constituency’s December 5 by-election.

Istana Negara, in statement at 6pm, said the decision was made following the advice of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and in view of the Covid-19 situation.

Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said a new date will be fixed for the by-election.

He said the Agong is satisfied that there is a need for a proclamation of emergency under Article 150 of the federal constitution.

“The emergency allows for the Agong to promulgate an ordinance under Section 2B of Article 150 to cancel out the date that has been set for the by-election.

“With this declaration, whatever proceedings that have started for the Batu Sapi polls will be discontinued, to prevent a fourth wave of Covid-19, and a new date will be determined.”

The king’s decision comes after his hour-long audience with Muhyiddin this evening following a cabinet meeting.

The Agong was also briefed by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, Chief Justice Tan Sri Idrus Harun, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh.

Fadil said the king was especially concerned for the people, seeing as to how the September 26 Sabah election led to a spike in coronavirus cases and the emergence of new clusters.

He noted how infections increased by 148.4% (3,842 cases) on October 10, just two weeks after polling day, and continued to rise in the following weeks.

“His Highness believes that it is very much appropriate that this (Batu Sapi) by-election be called off and postponed for the sake of the people’s safety and the country’s well-being.”

He said the king’s decision also takes into account the number of Batu Sapi constituents who live outside the area and would have to travel across districts and states to vote.

According to the EC, Batu Sapi has 32,962 registered voters, with 3,170 of them living outside the constituency.

Muhyiddin last month unsuccessfully sought a nationwide emergency to contain Covid-19.

Various quarters had criticised his move, saying it was nothing more than an attempt to hold on to power ahead of the current Parliament sitting. – The Vibes, November 18, 2020