PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin says there will be no lockdown or military rule in Batu Sapi, Sabah after a state of emergency was declared in the constituency.
He said the constituency in Sandakan will remain subject to the ongoing conditional movement control order (CMCO) imposed on Sabah.
“This state of emergency was declared only to delay the Batu Sapi by-election for the sake of protecting the lives of the people. The lives of the people in Batu Sapi will not be affected by this emergency.
“Government administration, economic and social activities can continue subject to the practice of new norms and SOPs under the CMCO,” he said in a national address today.
Muhyiddin also gave his assurance that the by-election would be held as soon as the pandemic was over, subject to provisions under the Federal Constitution.
“When the by-election is finally held, voters can carry out their democratic right in a safer and more peaceful environment.”
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong earlier declared an emergency for Batu Sapi in Sabah, effectively postponing the by-election in the constituency.
In a statement, Comptroller of the Royal Household Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said the King made the decision to avoid a fourth wave of Covid-19 outbreaks, with another date for the by-election to be set later on.
According to Muhyiddin, Attorney-General Idrus Harun said this was the only way to postpone the by-election, adding that the government’s priority was to protect the welfare of the people.
He also said it was apparent that strict SOPs were insufficient due to a lack of compliance, citing the surge in Covid-19 cases following the Sabah state polls in September.
“We do not want a spike in Covid-19 cases in Batu Sapi and in Sabah. This will surely undo the efforts of our frontliners, who are getting tired after working endlessly to fight the virus for so long.
“We should sympathise with them for working hard day and night to protect our lives. Let’s not allow their sacrifices to go to waste.” -FMT
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