Kuala Lumpur: Yang di-Pertuan Agong has declared a state of emergency for Gerik in Perak and Bugaya in Sabah. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the decision was made to postpone the by-elections for the two regions, which were scheduled for 16 January 2021.
He said he praises Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah approval for the emergency, as the nation has already learned its lesson from the Sabah state election, which triggered a third wave of infections.
He revealed that on 4 December the leaders along with the Agong discussed the urgency of postponing the election and how dangerous it could be for public health, a threat to economic life, and the threat to public order.
Muhyiddin said a new schedule will be announced soon until then these are cancelled.
The election was triggered after the deaths of Gerik MP Hasbullah Osman from Umno on 16 November, and Bugaya assemblyman Manis Musa Mohd Darah from Parti Warisan Sabah on 17 November.