NSC may declare localised emergency to stall Malacca polls - Loke

 

DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke predicted the government will declare an emergency in Malacca to postpone the state election now that the legislative assembly has been dissolved.

This is because the National Security Council (NSC) had before declared localised emergencies in Sarawak and two parliamentary constituencies to avoid elections due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It is not yet decided if we will have a state election in Malacca. Although the state assembly has been dissolved, the Election Commission has not yet announced its decision.

“The most important thing now is the stance of the NSC,” said the Seremban MP in a press conference in Kuala Klawang, Negeri Sembilan.

Citing the postponed Sarawak polls as an example, Loke said the government may similarly declare an emergency in Malacca.

“Besides Sarawak, the authorities had also declared localised emergencies in the Gerik and Batu Sapi parliamentary constituencies to avoid by-elections after the incumbents passed away.

“......I personally think the NSC will do the same to Malacca to postpone the state election,” said Loke.

DAP ready for state polls if it comes

However, he stressed that DAP is prepared for any possibilities, including an election within 60 days in Malacca if it is inevitable.

Melaka Governor Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam dissolved the state assembly on Oct 5 on the advice of former chief minister Sulaiman Md Ali.

This was after Sungai Udang assemblyperson Idris Haron (BN-Sungai Udang) and three other elected representatives withdrew their support for Sulaiman.

The three other assemblypersons who withdrew their support were Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor), Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu) and Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas).

After toppling their own administration, Idris Haron and Nor Azman has been sacked by Umno while Bersatu kicked out Noor Effandi.

Previously, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi suggested that a state of emergency be declared in Malacca in order to postpone snap polls due to the Covid-19 pandemic. - Mkini