THE government should have stricter SOP for the Malacca elections if it wants to avoid a repeat of the health crisis that resulted from the Sabah polls last year, said Steven Choong (Tebrau-ind).

The former PKR lawmaker also blamed politicians for triggering the state polls after defecting from their parties. 

“Politicians must prioritise public health but based on personal reasons, they have caused state elections in Malacca at this time,” said Choong in Dewan Rakyat today. He now sits as an independent.

The Malacca elections was triggered after four Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) assemblymen withdrew their support from Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali on October 4.

“Hence, I want to propose even stricter SOP for the Malacca polls,” said Choong, who quit PKR to support former prime minister and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin this year.

He said the government should bar any gathering of supporters on nomination day (November 8) and limit the number of voters at polling stations on November 20 to ensure adequate social distancing at polling stations. 

“There should also be a complete ban on ‘pondok panas’ on polling day,” he said.

Choong, who was debating the repeal of the emergency ordinances today, was the only MP to support the government’s announcement for stricter SOP to be implemented in the Malacca elections.

Earlier, lawmakers Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Kulim-Bandar Baharu-PH) and Ahmad Maslan (Pontian-BN) questioned the new restrictions, which were announced yesterday.

“The government should not use the Delta variant as an excuse to stop gatherings in Malacca as it is having elections. On the Ministry of Health’s website, it says it is harder to be infected by Delta for vaccinated individuals,” said Ahmad Maslan.

“Furthermore, it says that the symptoms for vaccinated individuals will be mild compared to the unvaccinated. If that is so, why should there be a ban on all activities.

“The government should reconsider this ban,” the Umno secretary-general said.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin yesterday said that any activities, rallies or social gatherings related to the Malacca polls are prohibited.

He said the rule takes effect today and will be in place until November 27.

Khairy said the decision was made as the risk of Covid-19 transmission is still high and there has been an increase in the number of new cases reported recently.

He noted that these activities would further heighten the transmission of the virus.

He said pursuant to the provisions under sub-regulation 10 (1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, assembly activities are not permitted. – October 25, 2021.