PUTRAJAYA, 20 July — The Ministry of Health (MoH) will recommend the Election Commission (EC) adopt existing Covid-19 prevention standard operating procedures (SOP) in the elections in six states and the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election, said its minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
Speaking to the media after launching her ministry-level National Month and the Fly the Jalur Gemilang 2023 earlier today, she said the MoH will also hold discussions with relevant agencies and departments including the EC if the SOP for preventing the spread of Covid-19 need to be improved or revised based on the current Covid-19 situation.
Among the existing SOPs for the prevention of Covid-19 as applied in the 15th General Election (GE 15) last November is that individuals who are positive are allowed to vote subject to certain SOP.
“So far if we look at the trend of the cases we are receiving, we take note and the SOP are already in place.
“But we will discuss if it is necessary to carry out measures that are different from the normal SOP and will discuss with the EC, the National Security Council (MKN) and the agencies involved if there need to be other procedures for improvement,” Dr Zaliha said.
The EC has fixed for state elections in Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Penang, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan, as well as the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat by-election to be held simultaneously, with August 12 set as the polling day and July 29 as the nomination day.
— Bernama
