PM wants another Covid-19 outbreak avoided if Melaka goes to the polls

PUTRAJAYA: Another Covid-19 outbreak must be avoided, similar to what happened during the 2020 Sabah election, should Melaka go to the polls, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

"My social media was flooded with comments from people concerned that a state election in Melaka could result in something similar to what happened in Sabah.

"Because of the Sabah elections, we saw how Covid-19 cases went up.

"If Melaka were to have state elections, I believe the Election Commission will come up with strict standard operating procedures.

"We will also discuss this with the Health Ministry," said Ismail Sabri to reporters after launching the National Preparedness Month 2021 event here.

Ismail Sabri, however, said it was too early to say if a state election would be held in Melaka.

"The Melaka state governor will make the announcement, so we will wait for that," said Ismail Sabri.

The Umno vice president also said he would leave party matters on the Melaka situation to president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

On whether the Melaka situation could "spread" to Putrajaya, Ismail Sabri said anything could happen in politics.

However, he said he believed that the rakyat would prefer less politicking by their leaders.

"In politics, even the impossible can become possible. However, we hope things will remain stable.

"After the government and the Opposition signed the memorandum of understanding, we saw how things calmed down in Parliament.

"The people are happy with this situation, they prefer not to have extreme politicking," said Ismail Sabri.