KUALA LUMPUR: The State Election following the dissolution of the Melaka State Assembly should not take place.
Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali instead said the attention should have been focused on efforts to tackle the Covis-19 pandemic and to revive the economy.
The Gombak Member of Parliament also voiced his concern that if the state election is continued then it will disrupt the country's recovery process which has affected all sectors, especially the tourism sector in Melaka.
"Yes, we take this matter seriously because this was the focus of the Federal Government previously under Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and now under Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob ... we are continuing our efforts to tackle the pandemic and to revive the economy.
"Although there are already positive signs of improvement, we nevertheless are still struggling with this problem. We do not want there to be a sudden surge (Covid-19 case) because of a state election.
"That is why we should see Melaka as a tourism state and we just want to open the border (state) to restore the tourism sector. I am worried this will be disrupted," he told reporters after officiating the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Dato Ahmad Razali Hall and handing over aid to people here today.
During the ceremony, Mohamed Azmin who is also the Bukit Antarabangsa State Assemblyman presented laptops to five students who are continuing their studies at universities.
Commenting further on the dissolution of the Melaka state Assembly, Azmin said he would study and look into the matter per the existing laws and state constitution.
"Whatever decision we make must be based on the laws and constitution of the state of Melaka and the federal level. We are looking into this," he said.
In the event a state election cannot be avoided, Azmin who is a Supreme Council member of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) said as a political party they must be prepared for any eventuality, including polls.
He said the cooperation between the political parties that has been governing the state government for the past two years should be continued.
"This is because the people want to see unity, the people want to see a close consensus, only with this unity and close cooperation, can we overcome the problem of pandemic and national (economic) recovery," he said.
Last Tuesday, the Election Commission (EC) received an official notification on the dissolution of the 14th Melaka State Assembly.
A state election must be held within 60 days from the date of the dissolution.
The State Assembly was dissolved by Speaker, Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh on Oct 4, after it was agreed by Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Mohd Ali Rustam.
The unicameral body was dissolved after four assemblymen - Datuk Seri Idris Haron (BN-Sungai Udang), Datuk Nor Azman Hassan (BN-Pantai Kundor), Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Independent-Pengkalan Batu) and Datuk Noor Effandi Ahmad ( Bersatu-Telok Mas) cited loss of confidence in the leadership of the Melaka Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.
