No gatherings, social events for Malacca election - KJ
MALACCA POLLS | All physical gatherings and social events related to the upcoming Malacca election will be banned from Oct 25 to Nov 27, according to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
Citing a need to reduce the risk of new Covid-19 infections, Khairy said the ban includes functions to launch election machinery of the various parties.
"To reduce the risk of Covid-19 infections and a spike in new cases...
MALACCA POLLS | All physical gatherings and social events related to the upcoming Malacca election will be banned from Oct 25 to Nov 27, according to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
Citing a need to reduce the risk of new Covid-19 infections, Khairy said the ban includes functions to launch election machinery of the various parties.
"To reduce the risk of Covid-19 infections and a spike in new cases, any activities, gatherings or social functions related to the election is not permitted, including the launch of the election machinery," Khairy said in a statement.
He said the move was in line with restrictions under the latest National Recovery Plan (NRP) standard operating procedures (SOPs) for states in Phase 4.
The restrictions, he said, concerned "any activities that can cause many people to be present in one location and poses difficulties for physical distancing and compliance to orders from the health director-general."
"Any breach of this provision, individuals, organisers or the organisation may face legal actions including a compound or prosecution, if found guilty under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
"All parties are required to comply with the regulations, SOPs and instructions in order to prevent an increase in Covid-19 infections and new clusters," he added.
Hike in cases due to SOP non-compliance
Khairy noted that the Health Ministry's observation found that recent contributors to the new increase in Covid-19 numbers and clusters include non-SOP-compliant gatherings or social activities.
"Following the Election Commission's announcement on the Malacca election on Nov 20, the Health Ministry is expecting many mass gatherings and social functions related to the election, involving individuals from all around the country.
"As the risk of Covid-19 infections is still high, particularly with in-community spreading of the Delta variant, such activities will increase the risk of new infections," he said.
Elaborating further on Twitter, Khairy said social gatherings are allowed under Phase 4 of the NRP but unfortunately political parties, in particular, have not been able to comply with the SOPs.
"As can be seen by recent gatherings, political parties (including mine) cannot observe SOPs.
"In the interest of public health, all political gatherings will now not be allowed in Malacca," Umno's Rembau MP added.
The state election was triggered after an unsuccessful coup by four assemblypersons who withdrew their support for then chief minister Sulaiman Md Ali.
The four are former chief minister Idris Haron (Sungai Udang), Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor), Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas), and Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu).
Malacca will go to the polls on Nov 20 with nomination day set for Nov 8.
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