Takiyuddin: Govt to consider emergency declarations for Gerik and Bugaya
PARLIAMENT | The government will consider recommending emergency declarations for the constituencies of Gerik in Perak and Bugaya in Sabah, in order to put the by-elections there on hold and help prevent the further spread of Covid-19, said de facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Last week, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah assented to a proclamation of emergency in Batu Sapi, Sabah thus circumventing the need to hold a by-election at present as a proactive measure to curb the Covid-19 outbreak...
PARLIAMENT | The government will consider recommending emergency declarations for the constituencies of Gerik in Perak and Bugaya in Sabah, in order to put the by-elections there on hold and help prevent the further spread of Covid-19, said de facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Last week, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah assented to a proclamation of emergency in Batu Sapi, Sabah thus circumventing the need to hold a by-election at present as a proactive measure to curb the Covid-19 outbreak.
The by-election was called following the death of its incumbent Liew Vui Keong last month.
Since that time, both Gerik MP Hasbullah Osman and Bugaya assemblyperson Manis Muka Mohd Darah have also passed away.
"The government today has made every effort to curb the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic in the country by applying the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act 1988 [Act 342] and implementing public health management.
"However, the country is still facing the spread of the transmission (...) with a new wave which took place after the 16th Sabah state election.
"Accordingly, to prevent the same thing from happening the government has decided to implement the Emergency Proclamation of Article 150(1) and the Proclamation of the Emergency Ordinance (Necessary Powers 2020) pursuant to Article 150(2B) of the Federal Constitution to be implemented in Batu Sapi to postpone the by-election," said Takiyuddin.
"The same action will be considered for implementation for the Bugaya state assembly seat and Gerik parliamentary seat based on risk assessment by the Health Ministry and the National Security Council," he added.
Takiyuddin was responding to a question by Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan who asked whether the government was intending to advise the Agong to declare an emergency in Bugaya and Gerik.
The minister also said that following the string of Covid-19 cases after the Sabah polls, the Election Commission was having difficulty in getting election officials.
"This is due to staff concerns over the spread of the Covid-19 at polling stations in Batu Sapi. In this case, the same situation can be expected in Bugaya and Gerik," he told the Dewan Rakyat.
Takiyuddin added that if the by-elections were held, a low voter turnout could be expected.
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