Government scrutinizes strict SOP for Batu Sapi by-election, Sarawak PRN - Prime Minister

PUTRAJAYA: The government will look into stricter election standard operating procedures (SOP) to face the Batu Sapi by-election (PRK) and the Sarawak State Election (PRN), said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

"Some people suggested to me that we tighten the election SOP.

"Yes, I can. I will look into the SOP provided by the Election Commission (EC) for the Batu Sapi by-election and the Sarawak PRN," he said in a televised special message here on Saturday.

However, he said, the EC may face many constraints to formulate a truly effective SOP in ensuring that there is no direct infection during the elections.

Among them, he explained, is the constraint to prevent the movement of voters in the red zones to go out to vote because they constitutionally have the right to vote.

"Batu Sapi is a red area. We ask Batu Sapi residents to sit at home. But since there is an election, they have to go out in large numbers to vote.

"Maybe the turnout will be low, but that's democracy," he said.

Muhyiddin added a similar situation will also occur in Sarawak involving the movement of voters from red areas to green areas.

This is because, he explained, Kuching is now a red area that recorded more than 70 cases of COVID-19.

"According to the Conditional Movement Control Order (PKPB) implemented now, residents in Kuching are not allowed to leave Kuching district.

"Thus, we can curb the spread of COVID-19 to other districts that are still in green status, that is, no COVID-19 cases are detected at all.

"But if elections have to be held, we cannot stop the people in Kuching from voting in Samarahan, Sri Aman, Miri, Bintulu and other districts to go out and vote.

"Similarly, Sarawak voters living in Sabah, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan and other states who recorded high COVID-19 cases.

"The Federal Government and the State Government cannot prevent them from returning to vote because that is their right under the Constitution," he explained.