KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no double standards in implementing Covid-19 preventive measures and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) during the Melaka state election campaign and polling day on Nov 20.
In giving his assurance, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, during the Dewan Rakyat question-and-answer session said he would raise the matter in the next Cabinet meeting (held every Wednesday).
"We don't practise double standards. On behalf of the Election Commission, National Security Council and Health Ministry, I hope all parties will comply with the law and adhere to the preventive steps (against Covid-19).
"I cannot guarantee that everyone will adhere to the SOPs. Look at what happened in Sabah; the people and political parties went about election campaign activities despite the stringent SOPs," he said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PH-Kulim Bandar Baharu).
Wan Junaidi said he would raise this matter in the Cabinet meeting and remind the ministers not to circumvent the SOPs.
Earlier, he said the EC, with co-operation from the NSC and MOH, was still in the midst of finalising the SOPs for the state election, by taking into consideration the current Covid-19 situation.
The SOPs would be announced before the nomination day on Nov 8, he said.
He said preparations were being done from various aspects, like election budget, equipment, logistics, system development, human resources management, training for election personnel, SOPs and others related to the state election.
"This is important in ensuring the election is held safely, smoothly and without any problems.
"It (SOPs) would be adapted in line with the National Recovery Plan phase, aside from considering views from the MOH and NSC," he said in reply to a question from Steven Choong Shiau Yoon (Independent-Tebrau).
Choong had also expressed concern over a possible Movement Control Order (MCO) should there be a spike in Covid-19 cases following the state election.