KOTA KINABALU – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Batu Sapi by-election and the Sarawak state election can only be stopped in the event an emergency is declared.
“This is because, under Phase 1 of Article 54 of the Federal Constitution, elections must be held within 60 days if there is a parliamentary seat vacancy.
“If the elections there cannot be delayed for whatever reason, then I ask the people in Batu Sapi to be careful and to follow all government protocols with discipline when the elections are held,” Muhyiddin said in his televised address to the nation today.
Previously Muhyiddin's attempt to declare a state of emergency was turned down by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
Muhyiddin said officials from the Election Commission (EC) had expressed their concerns on being on duty during the Batu Sapi by-election on December 5.
He said this was discussed during a special National Security Council (NSC) conference that he chaired today.
“In Sabah only it is estimated the government will have to spend about RM500 million if MCO has to be carried out according to health experts,” he added.
Nevertheless, Muhyiddin said voters have the right under the constitution to cast their ballots, regardless of whether they are in the green or red zones.
“Batu Sapi is a red zone and we encourage the residents there to stay home but because of the by-election, they would have to go out to vote.
“Perhaps the voting percentages will also be lower but that is democracy,” he said. – The Vibes, October 31, 2020
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