PUTRAJAYA – The Batu Sapi by-election will be held within 60 days of the end of the emergency declared in the area, said Election Commission chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh.
He said this is the same period of time set when the EC receives official notification of a vacancy in parliamentary or state seats.
“It’s like when we receive a notification from the (Dewan Rakyat) speaker. It means that we have 60 days to carry out the election,” he told a press conference here today.
On November 18, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah declared an emergency in Batu Sapi, effectively cancelling the constituency’s December 5 by-election.
The emergency proclamation over Covid-19 was issued on the advice of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin following a cabinet meeting.
The by-election was called after MP Datuk Liew Vui Keong died of a lung infection on October 2.
Asked about the possibility of an emergency being declared in Gerik and Bugaya, which are due to hold by-elections next January, Ghani said the EC is only responsible for conducting polls. – Bernama, November 27, 2020
