EC, MOH, MKN in the midst of finalising SOPs for Melaka polls - Wan Junaidi

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the EC, together with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Security Council (MKN) were in the midst of finalising the improved SOPs to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the state election.

"Public health and safety during the implementation of an election is our top priority, given the current COVID-19 situation. The SOPs are also set in accordance with the current phase of the National Recovery Plan (PPN)," he said during the Minister's Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat sitting today.

He was replying to Steven Choong Shiau Yoon (Independent-Tebrau) who wanted to know the COVID-19 preventive measures taken for Melaka polls to avoid a surge of new cases as in the case of the Sabah state election last year.

Wan Junaidi said the EC was also in the midst of making all the necessary preparations, including the election budget, logistics and training for the staff to handle the Melaka polls slated on Nov 20.

The minister said the EC will also set up 218 additional polling channels from the initial 1,156 channels at 248 polling centres in the state to avoid congestion.

In reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PH-Kulim Bandar Baharu) who wanted assurance that the government would not be biased against the opposition in the implementation of the SOP, Wan Junaidi said he would raise the matter at the next Cabinet meeting and advise all ministers against circumventing the SOPs drawn up for the state election.

The Melaka state election is being held following the dissolution of the State Assembly after four state assemblymen declared that they have lost confidence in Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali's leadership.