Medical group wants Batu Sapi by-election campaign rules overhaul

 

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has advised a complete overhaul of election campaign methods and strict enforcement of rules should the Batu Sapi by-election need to be held amidst a worsening Covid-19 outbreak in Sabah.

Among the suggestions are for a shorter campaign period, no large gatherings and to only allow candidates to pound the pavements for votes.

Earlier this week, Election Commission chief Abdul Ghani Salleh told Malaysiakini that the poll could not be postponed.  

Unless an emergency is declared, the Federal Constitution stipulates that an election must be held within 60 days of a seat being declared vacant.

Like many, MMA president Dr Subramaniam Muniandy (below) opined that an election, especially in Sabah, ought to be “out of the question” at a time when the Health Ministry was trying hard to slow down the infection spread.

However, if an election could not be avoided, he suggested that allowing only candidates to go to the ground to canvas for votes.

He also strongly advised against any crowded events.

“It would be better to limit only politicians contesting in Batu Sapi to campaign within the Batu Sapi constituency. Other politicians may campaign but they can do so through statements through the media and online.

“Politicians must agree that new ways of political campaigning are needed in this new norm. Organising ceramahs and visiting constituents in groups will only put all their voters at increased risk of Covid-19,” he said.

Ahead of the election, Subramaniam mooted that the Health Ministry conducts random tests among Batu Sapi constituents to detect the prevalence of the virus in the community.

He further suggested a shorter campaign period and for travel restrictions as well as strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) to be imposed.

“If at all elections are to be held, random (Covid-19) testing for surveillance should be conducted to check if there are any cases in the community there ahead of any campaigning period.

“Interstate and inter-district travel should be restricted and all campaigning must be conducted with strict SOPs with the campaigning period shortened,” he said.

Learn from Sabah election mistakes

The recent Sabah state poll led to infection cases and clusters among election candidates, EC officers and Peninsular Malaysia politicians who visited the state to campaign.

It also led to public dissatisfaction at the failure of politicians and political activists to adhere to SOPs like wearing facemasks and observing physical distancing when campaigning.

Following the election, the government banned inter-district travel in Sabah and restricted movements in 10 of the worst-infected areas. Malaysia is now experiencing the third wave of Covid-19 infections fuelled in part by the polls.

Thus, Subramaniam called for such mistakes to be avoided in the Batu Sapi by-election.

“We must learn from the just concluded Sabah state elections and ensure that its issues and mistakes are not repeated in the Batu Sapi by-election and in any future elections to be held,” he said.

The EC has yet to make any announcements about the Batu Sapi seat, which became vacant after the death of its Warisan MP Liew Vui Keong (above).

BN and Parti Cinta Sabah have both announced that they will sit out the by-election in the interest of public health.

DAP Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang and Bar Council committee member Andrew Khoo have called for parties to allow Warisan to win the seat uncontested to prevent the need for election campaigning. - Mkini