THE Batu Sapi and Sarawak polls could be postponed if a state of emergency is declared, said Muhyiddin Yassin.

The prime minister, whose proposal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for an emergency was rejected, said provisions in the federal constitution require the vacancy in Batu Sapi to be filled within 60 days.

Similarly, the Sarawak elections must be held within 60 days from the dissolution of the state assembly.

“This is serious. If you ask me, I would say elections should not be held at this time,” he said referring to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“But what can we do, because that is the requirement under the federal constitution. 

“Unless a state of emergency is declared under Article 150 of the constitution in Batu Sapi and in Sarawak, only then can we postpone both elections until the pandemic ends,” he said in special televised address today.

The Batu Sapi by-election will be held on December 5, while no date has been fixed for the Sarawak elections, which must be held by August next year.

Muhyiddin, on October 23, had an audience with the king to request a proclamation of emergency, ostensibly to combat the spread of Covid-19 infections that have been on the rise since last month.

Two days later, the Agong, after consultation with the Conference of Malay Rulers, decreed that the Covid-19 situation, although serious, did not warrant a state of emergency as the government had been handling it well.

An emergency would have seen elections suspended, as well as Parliament, where Muhyiddin faces several motions of no-confidence by MPs. 

His support could also be tested when the Dewan Rakyat votes on Budget 2021, which will be tabled in the coming meeting to start on Monday. – October 31, 2020.