KUALA LUMPUR: The Election Commission (EC) has affirmed that by-elections will take place in Gerik, Perak and Bugaya, Sabah, following recent notifications of vacant parliamentary and state seats there.
In a statement, EC secretary Ikmalrudin Ishak said that a special meeting on the matter chaired by its chairman, Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh, will be held at 9.30am on Friday at its office in Menara SPR, Putrajaya.
"The meeting will be discussing important dates on the by-elections, including candidate nomination day, polling, the electoral roll to be used, and other preparations for the by-elections," he said.
Datuk Hasbullah Osman, the four-term Gerik Member of Parliament, died last Monday.
In accordance with Article 54, Clause (1) of the Federal Constitution, the EC must fill the vacancy of the Gerik, Perak parliamentary seat within 60 days of being notified of its vacancy.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun notified the EC of the extraordinary vacancy of the seat following the death of its incumbent.
Meanwhile, the EC was also notified by Sabah Assembly speaker Datuk Kadzim Yahya of the extraordinary vacancy of the Bugaya seat after the death of Manis Muka Mohd Darah last Tuesday.
According to Article 21 (5) of the Sabah State Constitution, an election must be held for the vacant Bugaya, Sabah state assembly seat.
The EC offered condolences to the family members of the deceased.