Govt to seek views from experts before deciding on Melaka polls, says Hisham

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The government will seek the views of experts before deciding if a state election should be held in Melaka, says Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

The Senior Minister said views would be sought from the National Security Council (MKN), the Election Commission (EC) and the Health Ministry, with Sabah as a reference.

"I will obtain the views of the experts on the possible effects of holding a state election in Melaka.

"We had gone through a similar situation in Sabah and witnessed the implications. We need to consider this when deciding if Melaka should go to the polls.

"We do not want current or temporary political considerations to jeopardise the larger national agenda, which is to ensure the people’s safety during the Covid-19 pandemic, so what happened in the Sabah state election must be considered,” the Defence Minister said at a handover ceremony of food aid from the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry to the Defence Ministry in conjunction with the Mindef Prihatin Basket Programme here Wednesday (Oct 6).

Hishammuddin said the EC would discuss with the MKN on standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the Melaka state election before bringing the matter to the country's top leadership.

On Tuesday (Oct 6), the EC received official notification about the dissolution of the 14th Melaka Legislative Assembly.

This means that the state will have to hold a snap election within 60 days.

Speaker Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh announced earlier that Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Tun Dr Mohd Ali Rustam had consented to the dissolution on Oct 4 after four Melaka assemblymen declared that they had lost confidence in Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said the government will not make hasty decisions on interstate travel and would instead prioritise the concept of "reopening safely".

"The government is being responsible and careful ... this is for the people’s safety and to ensure the flexibilities given are based on scientific data that Health Ministry feels comfortable with,” he said.

Also present at the event today were Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang. - Bernama