Govt to consider new act on elections during pandemic

The government will be studying a proposal to formulate a specific act on the election process to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions) Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof said it could not be denied that elections such as the Sabah state election in September which involved large gatherings had resulted in a spike of Covid-19 cases in the country.

“Elections are under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission and I am unable to provide further information on whether a by-election or a general election can or cannot be held, but the government is always monitoring.

“If need be, create a specific act. The government is studying and making proposals,” he said during question time at the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was replying to Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu) on whether the government would draft an act to shorten the campaign period or on a new campaign method to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Redzuan said the current mechanism of national crisis management had succeeded in controlling Covid-19 infections and preventing health facilities such as hospitals and clinics from being burdened with the high number of cases.

He said the mechanism included the implementation of the movement control order, conditional movement control order, enhanced movement control order and recovery movement control order with SOPs focusing on health protocol practices and the new normal.

He said this in response to the original question by Fong Kui Lum (PH-Bukit Bintang) on the government’s measures to curb the outbreak.