The Election Commission will meet on December 16 to finalise key dates for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Election Commission (EC) will hold a special meeting on December 16 to determine the key dates for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections.
EC secretary Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus said it has received official notifications of the vacancies from the Dewan Rakyat and Sabah State Legislative Assembly speakers.
The vacancies arose following the death of incumbent Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin on December 5.
Khairul Shahril said the process is in accordance with the Federal Constitution and the Sabah State Constitution.
The provisions require that the vacancies must be filled within 60 days from the date of the notification.
“The special meeting, to be chaired by EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun, will finalise important dates for the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election and the Lamag state by-election,” he said in a statement.
He listed the items to be decided, including the issuance of the election writ, nomination day, and polling day.
The electoral rolls to be used and other preparatory matters will also be finalised.
A press conference will be held immediately after the special meeting concludes.
Bung Moktar passed away at a private hospital in Kota Kinabalu at 1.46 am on Dec 5 – less than a week after being elected as the Lamag state assemblyman for a second term. He was 66.
In the 17th Sabah State Election on Nov 29, Bung Moktar, who was also Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman, defended his Lamag state seat with a majority of 153 votes in a six-cornered fight.
In the national political arena, Bung Moktar began as the Kinabatangan Member of Parliament after winning the seat at the 10th General Election in November 1999, before continuing to serve for six consecutive terms.
Earlier, Johari said in today’s statement that he had issued a notification to the EC regarding Bung Moktar’s demise.
“On behalf of the Malaysian Parliament, I would like to express our condolences to the entire family of Bung Moktar and pray that his soul is blessed and placed among the righteous,” he said.
