IPOH, Feb 3 — Perak UMNO will not ask for a by-election be held for the Gerik parliamentary seat after it was postponed following the proclamation of Emergency in December 2020.
Its liaison committee chairman, Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said there was no necessity for it, considering that the next General Election should be in May 2023 and now is already February 2022.
“If we want to hold the by-election, it should be this May but one year after that or may be earlier, the prime minister may call for the dissolution of Parliament, so its meaningless. To me, let the seat remain vacant until the dissolution of Parliament.”
Saarani, who is also Perak Menteri Besar, said this to reporters after attending a Chinese New Year celebration hosted by the Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCCI), here, today.
On Dec 16, 2020 the Election Commission (EC) chairman, Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh reportedly said the EC accepted the Emergency proclamation which affected the holding of by-elections for the Bugaya state seat in Sabah and Gerik parliamentary seat in Perak and that new dates would be set for both seats,
Before that, the EC had set Jan 16, 2021 for both by-elections.
The seats became vacant following the death of Gerik Member of Parliament, Datuk Hasbullah Osman (Barisan Nasional) from a heart attack on Nov 16, 2020 and Bugaya assemblyman, Datin Manis Muka Mohd Darah of Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) from kidney failure on Nov 17, 2020.
On last Jan 24, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin reportedly said that a date had been requested from the EC to hold the Bugaya by-election and the decision would be known soon.
