SEREMBAN: The authorities need to take the cue from Sabah and consider deferring the Melaka polls to prevent another wave of Covid-19 infections, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

       The Umno deputy president said that ensuring public health was more important than holding a state election.

       “Although almost 90% of the adult population has been vaccinated, we must not forget that we are not completely out of the woods yet.

       “We must get the views of medical experts on this as the Covid-19 virus is still lurking among us,” he told reporters after distributing aid to the needy in Kampung Sega in Rantau, near here.

       Mohamad said that when snap polls were held in Sabah in September last year, Malaysia was recording single-digit Covid-19 cases daily.

       Despite stringent standard operating procedure enforced by the authorities, the numberof cases began to soar after the polls which led to the devastating third wave of Covid-19.

       “It is clear that the strict SOP did not help,” he said.

       He added that the authorities, especially the Election Commission (EC), needed to look at the relevant laws to see if it was possible to defer the Melaka polls as Malaysia just could not afford another Covid-19 wave.

       However, Mohamad said that if this was not possible, then the EC should only allow online campaigning and for the polls to bhe held over a few days.

       “There should be no face-to-face campaigning. The state election should also be held over a few days to ensure we don’t get huge crowds at polling centres,” he said.

       On Monday, four Melaka assemblymen declared they had lost confidence in the leadership of chief minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.

       The four were Datuk Seri Idris Haron (Sungai Udang), Datuk Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor), Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas) and Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu).

       Both Idris and Nor Azman were from Umno, and Noor Effandi from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

       All three have since been sacked by their parties. Norhizam is an Independent.

       Their move led to the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Dr Mohd Ali Rustam agreeing to Sulaiman’s request to dissolve the Melaka Legislative Assembly, paving the way for a snap election.

       Mohamad, when asked if Barisan Nasional and Umno would consider working with other parties in the event the polls were held, said this call must be made by the Melaka liaison committee.

       “If they are confident they can go it alone, then they should let the party leadership know.

       “The final decision will be made by the party leadership,” he said.

       Mohamad also said he was surprised by Sulaiman’s decision to call for the state assembly to be dissolved.

       “During a briefing, I was told by Sulaiman and the state Speaker that a letter to dissolve the assembly was sent to the Governor hours before the four assemblymen announced their decision.

       “I understand that some quarters may want to challenge the dissolution and we shall leave it to the courts to decide,” he added.