THE Chini and Slim by-elections will serve as a yardstick for the state-wide Sabah elections amid the Covid-19 pandemic, said director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

The ministry has developed standard operating procedures (SOPs) for elections, which was put to test in the Chini by-election. 

He said the ministry is satisfied with the process in Chini and will also be monitoring the Slim by-election on August 29.

“The two by-elections will be a yardstick for us to do an election on a larger scale in Sabah,” Noor Hisham during his Covid-19 briefing today.

He said SOP compliance is very important and the ministry will work with other agencies to ensure they are followed. 

The Sabah elections will see 73 state assembly seats being contested and will involve some 1.2 million voters.

The state legislative assembly was dissolved on July 30 and the elections have to be held within 60 days. 

The Election Commission earlier this week said polling dates will be announced in the next two weeks. – August 6, 2020.