KOTA KINABALU: A tourism group has come to the defence of Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor for urging that the state of emergency be extended.
Walter Kandayon, president of the Federation of Rural Tourism Association Sabah, said he did not think Hajiji’s proposal had anything to do with political survival but was “based purely on his grave concern for the safety, health and wellbeing of the people”.
Kandayon agreed with the view of the Bersatu-led Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government that there was a possibility of by-elections being held for two vacant seats in Sabah if the emergency was lifted.
Hajiji had said on Tuesday that the state of emergency should be extended for six months given the possibility of a spike in Covid-19 cases if by-elections in Batu Sapi and Bugaya were to proceed.
His statement came in the wake of the Rulers’ Conference stating that there was no need for the state of emergency to remain in force after Aug 1.
Hajiji’s proposal had earlier drawn flak from Sepanggar MP Azis Jamman of Warisan who said the chief minister had made himself a laughing stock. Political analysts also said Hajiji’s call will affect the GRS coalition’s image as it goes against the public sentiments of wanting the emergency to end earlier.
Kandayon said that holding by-elections would be tantamount to endangering the people’s health while Covid-19 cases continue to rise daily.
The by-elections would not affect the position of the state government, which enjoys a comfortable majority in the state assembly, he said.
“I strongly believe the call by Hajiji and other leaders in GRS for the extension of the emergency is to protect the people. Tourism players, including those in the rural areas, have been severely affected by the pandemic and we are banking on the on-going mass vaccination to flatten the curve,” he said. - FMT
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