KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 — A contest must not be mounted against Umno by other political parties in the Gerik parliamentary by-election as recognition of the late Datuk Hasbullah Osman’s services in the constituency, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said today.
As Malaysia was in the grip of a third Covid-19 wave, he said public health and safety must take precedence and prioritised over politics and elections.
Hasbullah, 63, died of a heart attack yesterday at the Raub Hospital in Pahang.
“DAP extends our condolences to the family of Gerik Umno MP Hasbullah Osman, who passed away yesterday from a heart attack. Even though we were on opposite sides of the divide, Hasbullah has contributed over two terms as a parliamentarian and to his constituents.
“Hasbullah’s passing necessitates another by-election within 60 days, which could pose risks to public health and safety when Malaysia is in the midst of a record surge in Covid-19 infections,” Lim said in a Facebook posting.
He said the public could not forget the spike in Covid-19 infections after Sabah was forced to conduct elections in September.
“There should be a pause to political electioneering until the danger and risks posed by Covid-19 are over,” Lim added. — Bernama
