Despite news reports of a possible declaration of an Emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic that would suspend all political activities, including the by-election, Batu Sapi folk are resigned to the polls being held.
With the east coast municipality reporting dozens of new Covid 19 cases daily, Batu Sapi folk are worried that the polls would result in a further surge of infections as seen after the Sept 26 Sabah polls.
“I’m hoping there will be no challengers to the incumbent party on nomination day. Personally, I don’t see how one parliamentary seat could make a significant difference to any party,” said Kampung Bokara village chief Sukasdi Saito.
Like other villagers in the Batu Sapi constituency, Sukasdi knows personally some of those from the area who have been tested positive for Covid-19 and those who have succumbed to the virus.
“We have been hoping that the authorities would delay holding the by-election. But if that’s not possible, then everyone should agree to give the seat back to the incumbent party for the sake of the safety of people of Batu Sapi,” he said.
Fellow village chief Jaddil Aidil, from Kampung Air, said he was certain that more than one candidate would turn up to file his or her papers on nomination day.
“There’s already talk of a hopeful candidate from a certain party moving around the kampungs in this area,” he said.
“If the by-election has to be held, then the authorities should not allow anyone from other districts or states to come here to campaign. We should learn our lesson from the state elections,” Jaddil added.
The Batu Sapi by-election has to be held to fill the vacancy left by the death of Warisan’s Liew Vui Keong on Oct 2.
The Election Commission has set Nov 23 as polling day, Dec 1 for early voting and Dec 5 as polling day.
BN, PBS, Sabah Pakatan Harapan and Parti Cinta Sabah have stated their intention to stay out of the by-election.
However, several other parties, including PN, have not stated whether they intend to contest the seat.
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