KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 24): The government is considering a declaration of emergency on Gerik in Perak and Bugaya in Sabah, to postpone by-elections in these seats following the deaths of their representatives last week that have rendered them vacant.
In a written response to Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian), Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said the government will evaluate the move based on a risk assessment by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Security Council.
"Following the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic after the 16th Sabah state elections, the Elections Commission of Malaysia is facing difficulties in finding election workers. This is because they feared the spread of Covid-19 at the voting centres in Batu Sapi," said the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of law and Parliament.
Last week, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah consented to declaring a state of emergency in Batu Sapi, which was due to have a by-election on Dec 5 after the seat fell vacant when its MP Datuk Liew Vui Keong passed away.
Takiyuddin added that the MoH is also facing challenges in stationing officers and healthcare workers to assist voters at treatment camps, owing to the high staffing demand at hospitals and health clinics.
He added that the fear of contracting Covid-19 from polling centres could keep voters at home, reducing turnout to 50%, from the average 60% seen in previous by-elections.
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