If Emergency Was Declared, Batu Sapi & Sarawak State Elections Could’ve Been Postponed, Says PM

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The Batu Sapi and Sarawak State by-elections are unavoidable according to the Federal Constitution, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

He cited Clause 1 of Article 54 of the Federal Constitution, that elections must be held within 60 days after there is a vacancy for a Parliamentary seat and Clause 4 of Article 21 of the Sarawak State Constitution which says that state elections shall be held within 60 days from the date of dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly.

Muhyiddin said in the National Security Council (NSC) meeting which he chaired today, the EC Secretary informed him that many election officials were worried about working in the Batu Sapi by-election later because they were afraid of being infected by Covid-19.

The Director General of Health Malaysia also reported that if the Sarawak State Election had to be held, he was worried about the situation in the rural areas of Sarawak which do not have complete health facilities will be able to accommodate the increase in positive COVID-19 cases that are likely to rise sharply after the election.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin

He also said that the ability of frontliners and health logistics will also become increasingly constrained by the vast geographical condition of Sarawak and some areas are very difficult to access.

Muhyiddin also stated that in Sabah alone, it is estimated that the government will have to spend half a billion ringgit if the PKP has to be implemented.

But what can we do because that is a requirement in the Federal Constitution then we have to hold elections. Unless an Emergency is declared under Article 150 of the Federal Constitution in Batu Sapi and Sarawak, we can postpone these two elections until Covid-19 ends.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin

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