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The coalition’s presidential council expressed disappointment over EC chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh’s announcement, saying the move might contravene Article 119 of the Federal Constitution.
“Although PH fully supports efforts to vaccinate everyone, it cannot be used as an excuse to discriminate against those who have yet to receive two doses.
“This move to bar them (from voting) might be invalid in terms of the law. We urge the EC to review its decision,” they said in a statement today,
The statement was signed by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Upko president Wilfred Madius Tangau.
They added that PH Melaka would also be filing a court injunction over the state assembly’s dissolution on Wednesday along with a certificate of urgency in order for the matter to be expedited.
They maintained that the state assembly’s dissolution was based on “wrong” advice, adding that the governor should have followed the precedent set at the federal level where the King allowed the bloc with the majority to form the government.
“We maintain our stand that Sulaiman Md Ali should not have been named the “caretaker” chief minister since he clearly had lost his majority support before the state assembly was dissolved.”
They added that this was not the right time to hold elections as the Covid-19 pandemic was just on a downtrend trend and the economic sectors have only started reopening.
They also voiced concern that the SOPs for campaigning would be unfair or biased. “Nonetheless, PH will continue preparing for the possibility of facing the Melaka polls.”
Earlier today, Abdul Ghani announced that the Melaka state election will take place on Nov 20 with early voting set for Nov 16. Nominations are slated for Nov 8.
He also said only voters who are fully vaccinated would be allowed to cast their ballot, with the EC to issue proposed time slots for voting through a MySejahtera-like system.
The Melaka state assembly was dissolved on Oct 4 after four assemblymen – Idris Haron (Sungai Udang), Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor), Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu) and Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas) – withdrew their support for Sulaiman.
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