BN to sit out of Batu Sapi by-election due to Covid-19

BN has decided that it would not contest in the upcoming Batu Sapi by-election to avoid a repeat of the Sabah state election aftermath that saw Covid-19 cases linked to campaign activities.

The decision was announced by BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today, who said the health and wellbeing of the people should be prioritised.

“The decision was made because BN feels that Covid-19 should be prevented from spreading if the by-election is held, as it did during the Sabah state election.

“BN leaves it to the Election Commission’s (EC) wisdom to decide a suitable campaign period and polling date,” he said in a statement today.

The Batu Sapi by-election was called following the death of the incumbent MP Liew Vui Keong on Oct 2.

The EC had said the by-election must be held and it has no power to postpone it beyond the 60-day period mandated by the Federal Constitution.

Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang had previously urged for Warisan to be given a walkover in the by-election to avoid the need for campaigning and polling.

The Sabah state election was held on Sept 26 amid a surge of Covid-19 cases in the state.

A number of voters, election workers, campaigners, candidates, and political leaders are known to have become infected following the state election.

In addition, 301 Covid-19 cases outside of Sabah to date have been linked to travel in the state since Sept 20, including 18 cases reported today.

Some of these cases have gone on to spark new clusters of infection outside Sabah. - Mkini