KUALA LUMPUR – Putrajaya has not ruled out the possibility of seeking an emergency proclamation for the Gerik and Bugaya constituencies, both of which fell vacant recently, should the need arise.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law) Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said a risk assessment will be conducted by the Health Ministry and National Security Council (NSC) in both areas before a decision is made.
He said an assessment was carried out for Sabah’s Batu Sapi before Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin advised the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to declare an emergency there ahead of the constituency’s December 5 by-election.
“The government today is doing its best to contain the spread of Covid-19. As such, based on Article 150 of the federal constitution, the cabinet decided for the prime minister to advise the Agong to declare an emergency in Batu Sapi.
“The same action will be considered and implemented in Bugaya, Sabah, and Gerik, Perak, if the risk assessment deems it necessary,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) on whether the government plans to advise the Agong to proclaim an emergency in the two constituencies.
On the justification for the emergency declaration in Batu Sapi, Takiyuddin said the government concluded, among other things, that there was a high possibility that NSC guidelines and standard operating procedures would be violated by voters there.
Also, the government has been unable to appoint enough election officers to oversee the polls.
“Up to November 6, only 143 individuals said they were willing to be on duty, out of the 837 officers needed,” said the minister.
“There are also constraints in providing health officers and staff to monitor more than 32,000 voters.
“It is due to these factors that the government believes that a declaration of emergency by the Agong is the right move and in line with the constitution, and does not go against the spirit of constitutional democracy.”
The Gerik federal seat fell vacant following the death of four-term MP Datuk Hasbullah Osman on November 16, while Bugaya assemblyman Datin Manis Muka Mohd Darah died the day after. – The Vibes, November 24, 2020
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