KOTA KINABALU: There is still no indication when the by-election for the Bugaya state seat, that fell vacant following the death of its assemblyman on Nov 17, 2020, will be held.
Manis Muka Mohd Darah died just months after winning the state seat in the Sabah snap-polls on Sept 26, 2020, due to health complications.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the power to call for a by-election was in the hands of the Election Commission (EC).
“It’s up to the Election Commission,” he said when asked about the update on this vacant seat, seeing that the state government is heading into its half term in power come October.
He was speaking to reporters after opening a new hotel – Holiday Inn Express – here yesterday.
Malaysian law says that a by-election must be held within 60 days after Parliament or the state assembly is told that a seat has become vacant.
However, it can be postponed if a state of emergency is declared.
Many leaders have questioned the delay, but both the state government and EC have used emergency orders and Covid-19 threat as the reason for it thus far.
Covid-19 lockdowns and later, a localised emergency order, were put in place in the Bugaya seat soon after Manis Muka’s death.
The order has yet to be lifted.
