EC awaiting govt decision on voting for Covid-19 patients

The Election Commission (EC) is still awaiting the federal government’s decision on whether those under Covid-19 quarantine will be allowed to vote in the Sabah state election.

EC chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh said the commission was told that the matter would be discussed at a federal-level meeting today involving the police, the health ministry and the National Security Council.

He said the EC would wait for the government’s decision and see what could be done if those under quarantine are allowed to vote.

“We have look into the legal aspect as early voting is today and polling will be held three days later (on Saturday),” he told reporters after visiting the early voting centre at the state police headquarters in Kepayan.

Ghani was responding to questions on whether another date would be set for Covid-19 patients and those under quarantine to vote.

Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador had said 270 police personnel in Sabah could not participate in early voting because they were under quarantine.

A total of 16,877 people are eligible to cast their ballots in early voting. As of 10am today, 35% had voted.

Early voting will close at 5pm.