Hold Bugaya by-election during GE15 to save cost, says Shafie

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan prefers the Bugaya state seat by-election to be held during the 15th General Election (GE15).

Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said although the party was keen to win back the seat it held, it would be more cost- effective and practical for the by-election to be held together with the general election.

“It is up to the Election Commission to decide on the dates as under the law an election should be held within 60 days (after it has been declared vacant),” he said when asked about the lifting of the localised Covid-19 emergency order on Bugaya in Semporna district on Oct 6.

The localised Covid-19 emergencies were in place in Bugaya as well as the parliamentary seats of Batu Sapi in Sabah and Gerik in Perak following the deaths of the incumbents.

Under election laws, any vacancies that fall within two years before the end of the five-year term of Parliament need not be filled.

As such, Batu Sapi and Gerik by-elections need not be held as the current term of Parliament ends in July next year.

Shafie, who was speaking at the Warisan headquarters here yesterday, said his party was ready for the Bugaya by-election as it already had a few suitable candidates in mind.

“We are ready anytime but if it is held at the same time as the general election, all the better as it will reduce the cost of the government which is already facing a high debt,” he added.

Bugaya incumbent Datin Manis Muka Mohd Darah of Warisan died on Nov 17, 2020, due to medical complications.

Prior to that, she retained the seat during the September 2020 Sabah state snap election.

Asked about his views on whether Parliament would be dissolved before Budget 2023 was passed, Shafie said it had happened in 1999 when elections were called immediately after the budget was tabled.

“Whatever it is, we are prepared for election this year or next year,” he said, adding that the party had identified candidates for seats it would contest.

He said Warisan would focus on parliamentary seats in Sabah and several seats in the peninsula where leaders had asked to be provided with an alternative platform for them to contest.

However, Shafie did not disclose the number of seats Warisan was eyeing.

On a recent call by a Parti Bersatu Sabah Youth leader for PBS and Warisan to consider working together in GE15, Shafie said Warisan was open to working with local-based Sabah parties.

However, he said PBS, a member of the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, had turned it down.

“I’ve said many times, we’ll leave it to their (PBS) leadership,” he said, adding that Warisan was prepared to contest on its own.