IPOH, Nov 7 — Perak Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) operations room spokesman Dr Lee Boon Chye today slammed caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on his statement that the 15th general election could be postponed if major floods imposed risk to the voters.
Lee said Ismail Sabri’s action on seeking to avoid the general election shows that Barisan Nasional (BN) is afraid of losing despite initially given assurance that the government has taken the necessary measures to tackle the flood issue during polling day.
“The ongoing flood incidents at Taiping, Kuala Selangor and other places were all predicted. It is not something that can’t be forecasted.
“Despite advice given by the necessary agency such as Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) and Fire and Rescue Department, the election has been fixed during the monsoon season.
“The election date has been fixed and nomination day done and campaigning has started. This means the process of voting has started. So by any means, the election needs to go on no matter what,” he told a press conference at the Perak PKR office in Medan Istana here.
Dr Lee said that it is the responsibility of the Election Commission (EC) to hold the election safely during the rainy and flood season.
“It is EC’s responsibility to overcome this issue. Government should have taken necessary action and not just merely talk.
“There is no need to stop the election from going on. The EC should evaluate the seriousness of the flood and maybe they can move the voting centres, which are at potential flood risk, to a safer place.
“The EC should also make sure voters can come out safe(ly) to vote,” he added.
Yesterday, Ismail Sabri had said that EC has the right to postpone GE15 in the event that major floods occur during the campaign period.
Ismail Sabri said he would convene a meeting and make a decision if the situation compelled the commission to halt the November 19 election.
On November 4, MetMalaysia forecast that the north-east monsoon season would begin on November 7 and last until March next year, and it could result in flooding in low-lying and riverine areas.
The department also predicted that the king tide phenomenon could hit during several periods between November and January next year.
