PM: Sabah election was unavoidable

 

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during his special address on the current situation of COVID-19. - BERNAMA pic

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin acknowledged that while the surge in new Covid-19 cases could be attributed to the recently-concluded Sabah polls, the election was unavoidable.

Speaking at a special televised address today, the prime minister said the election had to be called after the Sabah legislative assembly was dissolved by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin on July 30.

The government, he said, had no choice but to adhere to the law, which stipulates that an election must be called within 60 days of the dissolution of the state assembly.

"I acknowledge that the election campaign in Sabah was among the factors which contributed to the rise in Covid-19 cases.

"An election had to be held. We are subject to the provisions of the Constitution, which requires an election to be held within 60 days after the state assembly is dissolved. It cannot be postponed," he said.

Muhyiddin said while the Election Commission (EC) had imposed standard operating procedures (SOP) to contain the spread of the virus, there were those who did not follow the SOP, such as physical distancing.

"While many wore masks, physical distancing was not observed. During campaigning, I saw there were still many people who sat closely together within packed spaces."

Muhyiddin said he had to impose his "own SOP" by avoiding greeting the public and instead, head straight to the stage and immediately leave after finishing his speech.

He said during each campaign speech, he reminded the people to adhere to the SOP such as by wearing masks, not to sit too close to each other, and to wash their hands frequently or use hand sanitisers.

"I also had to avoid red zones. We had to politely decline invitations even though I wanted to campaign in all areas. I had to think about the public's safety and health as well as that of my officers and myself.

"Unfortunately, there are those who were infected by Covid-19 when they were in Sabah. This is regrettable," he said.

Muhyiddin added that the government had improved border control by increasing the number of security personnel on duty and arrange the movement of assets such as patrol boats and ships to secure territorial waters.

He added that several districts in Sabah and Kedah have been placed under the Targeted Enhanced Movement Control Order (TEMCO) to contain the spread of the virus.

"The government has also made it mandatory for those returning from Sabah to undergo Covid-19 screening once they arrive at the airport.

"Health Ministry officers will be conducting a risk evaluation of every individual who arrives. If they test positive, the individual will be isolated and treated in hospital.

"In addition, efforts to detect, isolate and treat have also been doubled," he said. - NST