Minister: Govt willing to consider seeking emergency for election areas
PARLIAMENT | Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Takiyuddin Hassan today said the government is willing to consider appealing for an emergency declaration in certain areas involved in an election.
The de facto law minister said the government will seek the declaration by appealing to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on a needs basis.
"Under Article 150, it is clearly stated that the King has powers to declare a nationwide emergency state or in selected areas, so if deemed necessary, the government will consider that.
"If not nationwide, maybe selected areas. What is important, it is allowed under the Constitution," Takiyuddin said during Question Time in Parliament, in response to Hassan Karim (PKR-Pasir Gudang).
Hassan had asked whether the government would consider seeking another audience with the Agong to seek permission for an emergency to be declared in Batu Sapi, Sabah, as well as the entire state of Sarawak, so that scheduled polls can be postponed.
Nominations for Batu Sapi are on Nov 23 while polling has been set for Dec 5.
The de facto law minister said the government will seek the declaration by appealing to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on a needs basis.
"Under Article 150, it is clearly stated that the King has powers to declare a nationwide emergency state or in selected areas, so if deemed necessary, the government will consider that.
"If not nationwide, maybe selected areas. What is important, it is allowed under the Constitution," Takiyuddin said during Question Time in Parliament, in response to Hassan Karim (PKR-Pasir Gudang).
Hassan had asked whether the government would consider seeking another audience with the Agong to seek permission for an emergency to be declared in Batu Sapi, Sabah, as well as the entire state of Sarawak, so that scheduled polls can be postponed.
Nominations for Batu Sapi are on Nov 23 while polling has been set for Dec 5.
Meanwhile, the Sarawak state elections must be held at the latest by 60 days after its automatic dissolution in June next year.
On a related matter, Takiyuddin in a separate written response to Lim Lip Eng (Harapan-Kepong) revealed that the government had spent RM130 million on the recent Sabah state polls, including additional costs to comply with Covid-19 prevention measures.
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in a special address last week had expressed concern that the upcoming Batu Sapi by-election and Sarawak state polls could worsen the spread of Covid-19.
His speech also came a week after the Agong turned down the government's request to declare a national emergency.
On a related matter, Takiyuddin in a separate written response to Lim Lip Eng (Harapan-Kepong) revealed that the government had spent RM130 million on the recent Sabah state polls, including additional costs to comply with Covid-19 prevention measures.
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in a special address last week had expressed concern that the upcoming Batu Sapi by-election and Sarawak state polls could worsen the spread of Covid-19.
His speech also came a week after the Agong turned down the government's request to declare a national emergency.
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