The Election Commission (EC) will convene a special meeting on December 16 to set the key dates for the upcoming by-elections in the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat and the Lamag state seat, following the passing of Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin last week.
EC secretary Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus said the commission received official notices of the vacancies from Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul on December 8 and Sabah State Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim M. Yahya on December 9.
In accordance with Article 54(1) of the Federal Constitution and Article 21(5) of the Sabah State Constitution, any unexpected vacancy in a parliamentary or state seat must be filled within 60 days from the date it is formally confirmed.
The special meeting, to be chaired by EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun, will decide the full election schedule — including the issuing of the election writ, nomination day, polling day, the electoral roll to be used, and all logistical arrangements for both by-elections.
A press conference will follow immediately after the meeting.
Bung Moktar, who also served as Sabah Umno chairman, was a six-term MP for Kinabatangan and a familiar figure in Parliament and state politics. He passed away on December 5 due to lung and kidney complications after a demanding election campaign.
