Agong’s decision a proactive move – Bung

KOTA KINABALU: Yang diPertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin AlMustafa Billah Shah’s decision to declare an emergency in Batu Sapi is a proactive move said Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) Liaison chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.

Bung in expressing support for the move said the King’s proactive decision was intended to protect the people from the ongoing threat of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He stressed that the declaration of emergency which resulted in the postponement of the Batu Sapi by-election is to protect the people and not meant to deny them, especially voters in the parliamentary constituency their democratic rights.

The Umno Sabah chief said Agong’s decision shows that his priority is towards the safety and wellbeing of the people in Sabah where Covid-19 cases have been on the rise after the 16th state election on Sept 26.

“The experience we went through with the state election should serve as a lesson for everyone not to take the coronavirus pandemic lightly,” he stressed.

According to the Kinabatangan Member of Parliament, 808 Covid19 cumulative cases were recorded on Sept 12 which was the nomination day for the Sabah election.

The number increased exponentially after the Sept 26 polling day and Sabah became the state with the highest positive cases, he said adding that the matter needs to be viewed rationally, especially the implications if the Batu Sapi by-election was to be held.

“It will take time for the Covid-19 outbreak to recover. With this in mind, Sabah BN had earlier made a stand not to contest in Batu Sapi,” Bung Moktar added.

The Batu Sapi parliamentary seat was declared vacant following the death of its Member of Parliament Datuk Liew Vui Keong from Parti Warisan Sabah on Oct 2. The Election Commission declared Nov 23 as nomination day, Dec 1 for early polls and Dec 5 as polling day.