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Kuala Lumpur: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pic) said the Batu Sapi by-election on Dec 5 and the Sarawak State election, which could take place any time soon, cannot be avoided unless a state of emergency is declared in these two places as stipulated under Article 150 of the Federal Constitution.

Despite concerns over the current increase in Covid-19 cases, the Prime Minister said the Batu Sapi by-election must be held within 60 days of the parliamentary seat becoming vacant, in line with Clause 1 of Article 54 of the Federal Constitution.

He explained that Clause 4 of Article 21 of the Sarawak State Constitution also states that a state election must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of the State Assembly.

“But what to do as that is enshrined in the Federal Constitution, so we have to hold the elections.

“If a state of emergency is declared under Article 150 of the Federal Constitution in Batu Sapi and Sarawak, then we can postpone both the elections until the Covid-19 pandemic ends,” he said in a special address on the Covid-19 situation that was aired live on local television channels.

Muhyiddin is of the view that elections should not be held at present based on the current Covid-19 situation.

In fact, he said, Election Commission (EC) Secretary Ikmalrudin Ishak informed the special meeting of the National Security Council (MKN), which the Prime Minister chaired Saturday, that many election workers had expressed concern about being on duty for the Batu Sapi by-election for fear of contracting the virus.

Muhyiddin said Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had also voiced his concern regarding the situation in the rural areas of Sarawak, which do not have complete health facilities to handle the expected rise in Covid-19 positive cases should the Sarawak State election be held.

“The capability of the frontliners and health logistics will also become increasingly stretched by the geographical terrain of Sarawak and the inaccessibility of certain areas in the State. This does not take into account the additional costs that will be borne by the Government and its cost to the economy if there is a spike in Covid-19 infections after the election,” he said.

CHIEF Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor (left) attending a special meeting of the National Security Council (MKN) on Covid-19, which was chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin via video- conference, Saturday. Joining Hajiji at the Sabah Chief Minister’s office in Kota Kinabalu for the meeting were Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun, State Secretary Datuk Safar Untong, Sabah MKN Director Sharifah Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof and Sabah Health Director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi.  The meeting discussed, among others, matters concerning the latest Covid-19 situation throughout the country.

Muhyiddin said some had suggested that the standard operating procedure (SOP) for elections be enhanced, but he understood that the EC would face many constraints to formulate a really effective SOP in ensuring an infection-free election.

According to Muhyiddin, one of the constraints was preventing the movement of voters in red zones, such as in Batu Sapi, to exercise their right to vote.

He said the movement of voters from red zones to green zones could not be prevented either.

For example, he said, residents in Kuching, Sarawak, which is a red zone with over 70 Covid-19 cases, would not be allowed to leave the district, which has been placed under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), to go to green zone districts.

“But the election has to be held, we cannot prevent the residents in Kuching who are voting in Samarahan, Sri Aman, Miri, Bintulu and other districts from going out to vote.

“It’s the same for Sarawak voters living in Sabah, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan and other states which have recorded a high number of Covid-19 cases. The federal and state governments cannot prevent them from returning home to vote as it is their right as enshrined under the Constitution,” he said.

Muhyiddin pleaded with voters in Batu Sapi and Sarawak to be careful, take care of themselves and comply with the SOP with full discipline if the elections could not be postponed for any reason.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin urged all Members of Parliament (MPs) to set aside their political differences and give their full support to Budget 2021, saying various allocations will be provided to fight Covid-19 in the interests of the people and to revive the national economy.

The Prime Minister said a form of agreement could be worked out among the lawmakers to enable the Budget, which will be tabled on Nov 6, to be passed with the support of MPs from both sides of the political divide.

“Let’s place the interests of the people above all other interests. InsyaAllah, in the Budget to be tabled the Government will unveil initiatives which will ease the burden of the people in these difficult times,” he said.

Muhyiddin also gave an assurance that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government would continue to seek the best ways to manage this major crisis that the country is facing.

“We have only one objective, that is to win this battle against Covid-19 and to ensure the safety and welfare of the people are always protected,” he added.

Muhyiddin said the Government viewed seriously the current spike in Covid-19 cases in the country and its effects on the people, economy and frontliners.

He said that in managing the third wave of the pandemic, the Government has to strike a fine balance between protecting lives and livelihood.

This could be done by tightening the standard operating procedure (SOP) for social, education, religious, sports and other activities to reduce the movements of people and break the chain of infection, he said.

“But at the same time, we allow economic activities to proceed subject to compliance with tight SOP, to ensure businesses and industries continue to operate,” he added.