KUALA LUMPUR: The Election Commission (EC), Health Ministry and National Security Council (NSC) will hold discussions and perform risk assessments on the by-elections for the Gerik parliamentary seat and Bugaya state seat.
"We are not sure if there is a need to impose a state of emergency for both areas,” said Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pic).
"We will not interfere as the EC is an independent body. It will decide if the elections should go on or otherwise," he told reporters during his daily briefing on Friday (Nov 27).
He was asked if a state of emergency would be declared in Bugaya and Gerik, similar to that in Batu Sapi.
Earlier Friday, EC chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh announced that the Gerik and Bugaya by-elections would be held simultaneously on Jan 16, with nomination day on Jan 4 and early voting on Jan 12.
The EC expects a 70% voter turnout for both by-elections, he said in Putrajaya.
The by-elections were triggered following the deaths of Gerik MP Datuk Hasbullah Osman on Nov 16 and Bugaya assemblyman Manis Muka Mohd Darah on Nov 17.
Meanwhile, Ismail also said there had been questions about inter-district travel.
"Inter-district travel is prohibited except for those who have police permission or a work pass," he said.
"We are not sure if there is a need to impose a state of emergency for both areas,” said Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pic).
"We will not interfere as the EC is an independent body. It will decide if the elections should go on or otherwise," he told reporters during his daily briefing on Friday (Nov 27).
He was asked if a state of emergency would be declared in Bugaya and Gerik, similar to that in Batu Sapi.
Earlier Friday, EC chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh announced that the Gerik and Bugaya by-elections would be held simultaneously on Jan 16, with nomination day on Jan 4 and early voting on Jan 12.
The EC expects a 70% voter turnout for both by-elections, he said in Putrajaya.
The by-elections were triggered following the deaths of Gerik MP Datuk Hasbullah Osman on Nov 16 and Bugaya assemblyman Manis Muka Mohd Darah on Nov 17.
Meanwhile, Ismail also said there had been questions about inter-district travel.
"Inter-district travel is prohibited except for those who have police permission or a work pass," he said.
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