KOTA KINABALU – Parti Warisan Sabah has hailed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s emergency declaration for Batu Sapi which prevents a by-election to be held there as scheduled on December 5.
Its president and former Sabah chief minister Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal said the lives of many should not be put at risk in the face of spiralling Covid-19 cases across the country.
The parliamentary seat fell vacant when its MP Datuk Liew Vui Keong, who was Warisan chairman, passed away due to a lung infection on October 2.
“In executing the democratic process, the health of the people should not be put at stake,” Shafie said today.
“Warisan however hopes that the government will find the best way to ensure a fresh election is held and the Batu Sapi folks are informed when the emergency rule will end,” he added.
Shafie opined the Batu Sapi folks are still in need of a leader to represent them in parliament, adding that the rights of voters there to elect an MP will be honored once the emergency rule is lifted.
Meanwhile, Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Hj Noor said the proclamation was a wise decision to save people’s lives from the deadly virus.
“The need to stop the spread of the virus and protect the health of the people is of paramount importance,” he said.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah declared the emergency today following the advice of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and in view of the Covid-19 situation.
In a statement earlier, Comptroller of the Royal Household Dato’ Indera Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said the King made the decision to avoid a fourth wave of Covid-19 outbreaks, with another date for the by-election to be set later on.
Muhyiddin assured in a televised address later that the polls will be held when the coronavirus situation in the state has been addressed.
“There will be no curfew or military rule. Residents will continue with their daily activities under new norms,” he said.
He added that the cabinet noted that Malaysia’s third Covid-19 wave was caused by the September 26 Sabah election, where compliance with health standard operating procedures was very low. – The Vibes, November 18, 2020
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