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Malaysia's king extends COVID-19 state of emergency in Sarawak to stop polls

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The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly in Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak. (Photo: AFP/Mohd Rasfan) - 

 

 

Malaysia's king extended a state of emergency in the eastern state of Sarawak until February 2022 to suspend regional elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malaysia is under emergency rule nationally to prevent the spread of COVID-19 but that is set to expire on Sunday (Aug 1).

The state of emergency in Sarawak, however, will be extended until Feb 2 next year, Bernama reported, citing the government gazette.

King Al-Sultan Abdullah decreed that the emergency is to suspend the state election in order to prevent any further increase in the spread of COVID-19.

The Sarawak legislative assembly's term had ended on Jun 6. The national emergency prevented an election from being held and allowed the term to be extended.

 

Malaysia's COVID-19 infections have spread rapidly in recent weeks. 

 

Daily cases hit a record 17,405 this week, and the total number of infections stood at 1,095,486 as of Friday//CNA

 

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