KUALA LUMPUR: The Election Commission (EC) has suspended all proceedings related to the Batu Sapi by-election, following the emergency declaration by Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah today.
Its chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh, in a statement, said another date would be set for the by-election.
"We take note of the announcement by the Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on the emergency declaration, in accordance with the Clause (1) of Article 150 of the Federal Constitution, which enable an ordinance to be proclaimed under the Clause (2B) of Article 150 to call off the date set for the Batu Sapi by-election, after consent given by the King.
"Therefore, the EC has suspended all proceedings that have taken place for the purpose of conducting Batu Sapi by-election and a new date will be set," he said.
Earlier today, the King has agreed to declare a state of emergency in the Batu Sapi parliamentary constituency in Sabah.
Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said the King had consented to the emergency declaration at the parliamentary constituency, as a proactive measure to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.
EC had set Nov 23 for the nomination, Dec 1 for early voting, and Dec 5 for polling for the Batu Sapi by-election.
The by-election was called after Batu Sapi Member of Parliament Datuk Liew Vui Keong died of a lung infection on Oct 2.