PARTI Warisan Sabah today accepted the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decision to assent to a declaration of emergency in Batu Sapi, but hopes the by-election can be held as soon as the Covid-19 outbreak is brought under control.

Party president Mohd Shafie Apdal said the king had used his wisdom in giving his consent, which now means the by-election scheduled for December 5 has been postponed.

“In undertaking a democratic process, the people’s health cannot be gambled but instead be made a priority, more so when the country is fighting to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

“It is also our hope that Batu Sapi voters can exercise their right to choose their representative once the virus is contained,” he said in a statement.

The former Sabah chief minister said residents in the parliamentary constituency deserve an elected MP who will bring their issues up in Parliament.

Earlier today, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah gave his consent after an audience with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who carried a proposal from cabinet. 

“Therefore, Sultan Abdullah has given his consent for the Proclamation of Emergency for P.185 Batu Sapi, Sabah to be implemented as a proactive measure to curb the Covid-19 epidemic,” the palace said in a statement today.  

“With this declaration, any proceedings that have begun for the purpose of conducting the by-election will not be continued with the purpose of restraining and preventing the occurrence of the fourth wave of Covid-19.

“Another date will be set for the by-election,” the statement read. – November 18, 2020.