Kuala Lumpur: The Election commission announced that the polling date of twin by-elections of Gerik in Perak and Bugaya in Sabah will be on 16 January 2021, while the Nomination is scheduled on 4 January and early voting on 12 January.
The Gerik by-elections in Perak was triggered after the sudden death of its incumbent, Hasbullah Osman. UMNO MP died of heart complications at the age of 63.
Meanwhile, the Bugaya seat was vacated after the death of its incumbent Parti Warisan Sabah assemblyman Manis Muka Mohd Darah at age 65. She was suffering from kidney problems and was admitted to a private hospital in Kota Kinabalu where she died.
Earlier, the government was considering a declaration of emergency on Gerik in Perak and Bugaya in Sabah, to postpone by-elections in these seats following the deaths of their representatives last week that have rendered them vacant.