SANDAKAN – Poor internet connectivity in some parts of Batu Sapi will hamper the online campaign for the December 5 by-election, said former Sekong rep Datuk Samsudin Yahya.
The Election Commission (EC), announcing the polls date earlier this week, said campaigning is only allowed online and through the distribution of materials via post given the coronavirus situation, which has worsened in Sabah following the state election last month.
“Of course, the remote areas won’t have good internet connection,” Samsudin told reporters here today.
“We have an island zone that has seven islands, 14 villages and about 2,000 voters. And other areas, like Lung Manis, Segaliud and some parts of Jalan Cecily, have limited internet connectivity.
“Plus, not all voters have smartphones, especially those who are older.”
He said the by-election, called following the death of MP Liew Vui Keong on October 2, should not be held for the sake of public health and safety.
“While I respect the EC’s decision as they have rules to follow, I still think (holding the by-election) is a bad idea with the Covid-19 situation here worsening by the day.
“It is troubling the people. It is difficult to avoid crowds, especially on polling day, as we saw in the recent state election.
“Even if they are asked to observe physical distancing at polling centres, they will still form a crowd outside while waiting for transport.
“I believe that most people won’t go out to vote this time as they feel safest at home.”
Batu Sapi Umno acting chief Zantapha Zainal Abidin said the party grassroots believe that the by-election will only cause problems.
“We are still hoping for the election to be postponed. Rules are man-made; surely they can be amended for the sake of human lives.”
Local activist Azlani Rayqiezan shares Zantapha’s belief that the polls will see a low turnout due to fears of the virus.
“Looking at the turnout in the state election last month, of Sekong’s 17,000 eligible voters, only 11,000 voted. The Covid-19 situation was not as serious then. Now, I doubt that even half of the voters will turn up.”
The Sekong state constituency, as well as Karamunting, falls under the Batu Sapi parliamentary seat, located in the district here.
Batu Sapi has 32,574 registered voters, according to EC data from 2018.
Azlani echoed Samsudin’s view on poor internet coverage in the constituency, especially in its island zone, where the Pulau Timbang and Shanghai district polling centres are located.
As of yesterday, there were 459 active coronavirus infections in Sandakan, which has only one major medical facility.
The Vibes has reported that Duchess of Kent Hospital is struggling to cope with the spike in Covid-19 cases.
The Ramai-Ramai cluster, which has 152 cases at the time of writing, was started by a minibus driver in Batu Sapi whose infection has been linked to his work during the September 26 Sabah election.
Umno, Parti Cinta Sabah and the Liberal Democratic Party have announced that they are sitting out the Batu Sapi contest in view of the virus crisis. – The Vibes, October 16, 2020
