Minister: Part- emergency to stop Batu Sapi by-poll possible

Kuala Lumpur: The Federal Constitution allows for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to declare an Emergency to hold off the Batu Sapi by-election if the situation warrants it, says Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan (pic).

“It is clear that Article 150 of the Federal Constitution grants the power to the King to declare an Emergency.

“If it is necessary, the government may consider this – if not for the entire country, then a part of it,” the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Parliament and law said when answering a question raised by Hassan Abdul Karim (PH-Pasir Gudang) in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Nov 5).

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Hassan asked if the government would consider seeking an Emergency declaration for specific localities such as Batu Sapi.

For the moment, Takiyuddin said the Election Commission (EC) was preparing for the Batu Sapi by-election amidst the Covid-19 pandemic in Sabah, which is the state hit hardest by Covid-19 in the country.

“If the by-election is to proceed, one of the main SOP is the prohibition of ceramah and gatherings during campaigning.

“Candidates and their parties are instead encouraged to use social media and media channels to campaign,” he added.

He said that EC was training its personnel how to manage their work online as a means to minimise physical contact during the polling period. He said the EC had gained experience in carrying out an election after conducting the Chini and Slim by-elections including the Sabah election amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

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On Oct 25, the King announced that there was no need to declare an emergency after the proposal was mooted by the Perikatan Nasional government.

Earlier, to a question by Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong), Takiyuddin said that the government spent RM130mil to conduct the Sabah election.

The Batu Sapi seat in Sabah fell vacant following the death of its MP Datuk Liew Vui Keong from Parti Warisan Sabah on Oct 2.

The EC has set Dec 5 for polling for the by-election, with nomination on Nov 23 and early voting on Dec 1.

Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg recently said that the state election must be held when the current term ends in June next year.

Although bound by the state’s constitution to hold the state elections, there have been suggestions that it should be held off due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday (Nov 4), Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he had requested the relevant authorities to study the legal aspects of possibly of holding off the Batu Sapi by-election until after the Covid-19 pandemic is over.

The Sabah election was held on Sept 26 after its Legislative Assembly was dissolved on July 30, which subsequently saw a rise in the number of cases in the peninsula with close contacts linked to the state.