Sabah polls: Covid-19 patients not allowed to leave hospital to vote, says Ismail Sabri

PUTRAJAYA: Voters, who are Covid-19 positive, would not be allowed to leave the hospital to vote during the upcoming Sabah state polls, says Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said this was to avoid the risk of them spreading the virus to other voters who are out to cast their ballot.

“Patients under investigation (PUI) and persons under surveillance (PUS), who plan to go out and vote must first apply and obtain permission from the district health officer before doing so, ” he said on Thursday (Sept 10).

Ismail Sabri said the standard operating procedure (SOP) used during the Slim and Chini by-elections drawn up by the Election Commission (EC) has been tweaked and would be used for the Sabah polls.

He said that while ceramahs will be allowed during campaigns, it is not encouraged, and organisers must ensure that everyone who attends follows the SOP strictly.

“We will allow organisers to gather a maximum of 250 people for each ceramah. However, if the place is small, then the number of attendees must be small, too, ” he said.

Social distancing, temperature screening, the use of hand sanitisers as well face masks are a must during such events.

The SOP would also see voters with symptoms such as body temperature exceeding 37.5 Celsius, cough, sore throat and breathing difficulties to be separated from other voters and will cast their ballots in a special tent at polling stations.

Sabah will vote on Sept 26 while nomination day is on Sept 12.