Simultaneous by-elections for Gerik, Bugaya on Jan 16

RANAU – Simultaneous by-elections for both the Gerik parliamentary seat in Perak and Bugaya state seat in Sabah have been set for January 16, next year.

Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh said the nomination for both by-elections have also been set for January 4, while early voting is on January 12.

Campaigning will only be held for 12 days instead of 14, and will include improved health guidelines to curb the spread of Covid-19. 

“The Gerik by-election in Perak will involve 36,750 and 21,618 voters in Bugaya, Semporna, Sabah. 

“A total of 1,309 election workers will be appointed to handle the Gerik by-election while 544 election workers will be appointed to handle the Bugaya state by-election. 

“The Gerik by-election will need an estimated RM5.8 million while Bugaya will need some RM4.7 million,” he said in a statement today. 

The nomination and official vote-tallying centre for the Gerik polls will be at the Gerik district council multipurpose hall, while for the Bugaya by-election, at the Semporna community hall.

In both by-elections, the EC will use the Covid-19 prevention guidelines for the Sabah election in September, but with several improvements. 

For instance, lectures, ceramah, house-to-house visits, walkabouts and face-to-face pamphlet distributions are not allowed, with candidates encouraged to campaign via social media. 

Banner and bunting installations will be allowed but party workers and candidates must practise physical distancing at all times. 

Mobile loud hailers are allowed at the appropriate time and should not be done to cause people to gather in masses, the EC said.

The EC is also expecting a 70% voter turnout, Ghani said. – The Vibes, November 26, 2020.