By-election looming in Batu Sapi following Liew's death

 

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is set to have a second by-election this year, following the death of Batu Sapi MP Datuk Liew Vui Keong.

The Parti Warisan Sabah permanent chairman, fondly known as VK Liew, died around noon on Friday (Oct 2) due to complications from lung infection at a private hospital. He was 60.

This could be the second time in a decade that the Batu Sapi constituency sees a by-election due to a vacancy created by a death.

On Oct 9,2010, former Batu Sapi MP Datuk Edmund Chong Ket Wah was killed in a road accident when he was riding a motorcycle.

Under election rules, the Dewan Rakyat, once informed of a vacancy through death, will in turn inform the Election Commission (EC).

The EC will have two weeks to sit and set a date for the by-election, which will have to be held within 60 days of being informed of the vacancy by Parliament.

The by-election appears imminent as the current Parliament term has not crossed three years from the day it first sat.

Earlier this year, Sabah saw the Kimanis by-election taking place following an Election Court decision to nullify the 2018 result for the seat.

Last year, the neighbouring Sandakan parliamentary seat also saw the death of its MP, the late Datuk Stephen Wong, who was also Sabah DAP chief, which triggered a by-election. - Star