Kota Belud Mp Why No Bugaya By Election After Other State Polls

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PARLIAMENT | A Warisan lawmaker has questioned the government’s delay in holding a by-election for the Bugaya state seat in Sabah, following at least three state elections held under Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (above) (Warisan-Kota Belud) said more than a year had passed since the Bugaya seat was left vacant due to the death of its incumbent, the late Manis Muka Mohd Darah, just several months after winning the seat in the last Sabah elections on Sept 26, 2020.
“For more than a year, the people in Bugaya have been unrepresented.
“Where lies the government’s concern? Is that what we call ‘Keluarga Malaysia’?” she said during the debate of the Supplementary Supply (2021) Bill 2022.
The Election Commission (EC) had on Nov 27, 2020, announced that by-elections for Bugaya and also the Gerik parliamentary seat would be held simultaneously on Jan 16, 2021.
Both by-elections were postponed indefinitely through emergency provisions under Article 150 (1) of the Federal Constitution due to Covid-19 concerns.
‘State polls since were on much larger scale’
Isnaraissah noted that since then, the EC had proceeded with other state elections in Sarawak, Johor and Malacca.
“There have been several state elections held. Sarawak was because the time had come.
“But that one state was fighting among themselves, while the other was in the name of political stability,” she said.
“Elections in these states were carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic at a much larger scale than if we were to hold the Bugaya by-election,” added Isnaraissah.
BN supporters cheering the coalition’s landslide win in the Johor pollsDeputy Finance Minister I Shahar Abdullah earlier tabled the bill to apply a sum of RM8,413,567,300 from the Consolidated Fund for various additional expenditures not fully provided for by the existing federal budget.
The sum includes a proposed addition of RM67,721,300 for the Election Commission.
Shahar in his winding-up speech, however, apologised to Isnaraissah for being unable to answer her question.
Fixed-term Parliament legislation
Separately, Chan Foong Hin (Harapan-Kota Kinabalu) said the government could save on costs to hold separate state elections or by-elections through enacting a Fixed-Term Parliament Act, modelled after other Westminster democracies.
He said this was in contrast to the current practice where a prime minister has powers to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to dissolve Parliament before the end of a five-year term.
“With a fixed-term Act, I think Malaysia can save on costs to hold snap elections or unplanned elections, and the cost for a general election can be included in the federal budget,” said Chan.
In his speech later, Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin also agreed with Chan's proposal, adding that the Act, should it come into force, would restore political stability in Malaysia.
“If the Bera MP (Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob) wants political stability, do an MOU 2.0 and in that MOU 2.0, we do a Fixed-term Parliament Act, whereby the date of the election is set until the end of the term.
“And I am very confident that this will get support from BN, Perikatan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan and Harapan Plus. Those who disagree are only several from the court cluster only,” Sim said, taking a swipe at several BN leaders who are facing multiple court charges.
Following the Johor election last month, Harapan-held states of Selangor, Penang, and Negeri Sembilan, as well as PAS-led states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah have indicated they would not follow Putrajaya’s lead if Parliament was to be dissolved before its term ends in May next year.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Mas Ermieyati Samsudin in her winding-up speech revealed the government spent RM45 million to hold the Malacca state election and RM96 million for the Johor polls.
It was previously reported the Sabah election cost RM130 million, and another RM150 million was spent on the Sarawak polls, including for Covid-19 prevention measures. - Mkini

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