THE Election Commission has denied reports that only Covid-19 vaccinated voters will be allowed to vote in the Malacca elections on November 20.

“The Covid-19 standard operations procedures (SOP) for the 15th Malacca polls have yet to be finalised,” EC chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh said in a statement.

Ghani said Covid-19 prevention guidelines for the elections will be based on the standard operating procedure (SOP) provided by the national security council, Health Ministry and the police.

Earlier today during a press conference to announce polling and nomination dates, Ghani is said to have declared that only vaccinated residents will be allowed to vote.

His purported statement immediately drew rebuke from the Pakatan Harapan president council, which said the EC cannot discriminate against unvaccinated voters.

“We are of the view that this is in breach of Article 119 of the Federal Constitution, which is in relation to the right to vote,” PH said in a statement this evening.

“While we fully support the administering of the vaccines to all, this cannot be used as an excuse to discriminate against those who have not completed two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine and could also be against the law.”

The 28-seat assembly was dissolved on October 4 after four assemblymen – former chief minister Idris Haron (Sg Udang), Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu), Noor Effandi Ahmad (Teluk Mas) and Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor) – withdrew support for Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali, causing him to lose his majority. – October 18, 2021.