PCS slams Shafie over proposal to allow Covid-19 patients to vote
Published on: Saturday, September 19, 2020
By: FMT
PETALING JAYA: Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) has slammed Warisan president Shafie Apdal over a proposal the caretaker chief minister made to allow Covid-19 patients to vote in the coming state polls.
This comes after Shafie reportedly said the state government could provide the SOPs to enable Covid-19 positive Sabahans in Tawau and Lahad Datu to vote, which include a separate queue for them.
ADVERTISEMENT PCS deputy president Pang Yuk Ming said Shafie seemed to be more bothered about winning the election than the safety of the people, adding that his proposal would put Sabahans at risk just so that he can cling onto power.
“Is he and Warisan so desperate to win this election that he does not see the risk in allowing people who have been found positive of the deadly virus to go and vote?
“Is Shafie saying this just because he wants as many people, including those who have been found positive for the virus, to go and cast their vote?
“How would he and Warisan answer to the people if the number of cases suddenly goes out of hand because of their selfishness?
ADVERTISEMENT “Yes, we can’t stop anyone from exercising their right to vote. But we’re experiencing a dangerous pandemic situation at present. Human lives are more important,” he said in a statement today.
Shafie was reported to have made the proposal when asked to comment on the rising number of Covid-19 cases in Sabah, especially in Lahad Datu and Tawau, and whether it will affect the voter turnout on polling day.
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He was quoted by the Daily Express as saying, “We can always provide the SOPs for those people who have been found positive (for Covid-19) and there should be a line for them. We cannot stop them from exercising their right.”
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Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said also supported the idea, saying a mechanism must be developed to ensure that Malaysians who have been infected with Covid-19 were able to vote.
The Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker said all registered voters have the right to cast their ballot even if they are “unable to walk”.