22/05/2026

FRIDAY | MAY 22, 2026

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No by-elections for Pandan, Setiawangsa Parliament seats

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: No by-elections will be held for the parliamentary seats of Pandan and Setiawangsa that fell vacant recently, the Election Commission (EC) said yesterday. It said in a statement that it had received official notification from Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Dr Johari Abdul through a letter dated May 20 regarding the status of the two seats after they were declared vacant under Article 51 of the Federal Constitution. EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said the Speaker had informed the commission that there is no requirement to fill the vacancies in accordance with Article 54(1) of the Federal Constitution, that stipulates any casual vacancy in the Dewan Rakyat must be filled within 60 days of the EC officially determining the vacancy. However, it provides key exceptions, including a provision that a by-election is not required if the vacancy arises less that two years before the expiry of Parliament’s five-year term. In such circumstances the seat may remain vacant until the next general election. The vacancies arose after former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and former PKR vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad announced on Sunday that they were leaving PKR and vacating their parliamentary seats. PKR secretary-general Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh later confirmed that the party had received notification of their intention to leave PKR and relinquish their seats. She said the declarations made by Rafizi and Nik Nazmi were in line with Article 49A(1)(a)(ii) of the Federal Constitution, which states that a Dewan Rakyat seat becomes vacant if an elected representative particularly pneumonia, are among the most commonly detected illnesses among Malaysian haj pilgrims. Head of haj medical specialists Dr Taufik Rosli said most of the cases involve elderly pilgrims as well as those with a history of chronic illnesses and high-risk conditions. He said the situation is caused by factors such as extreme fatigue, dehydration and failure to take medication regularly because pilgrims are overly focused on religious activities. “Some pilgrims drink less water because they worry about difficulty accessing toilets at Masjid al-Haram. Others become so exhausted that they forget to take their high blood pressure and diabetes medications.” Taufik said the situation causes pilgrims’ blood pressure to become uncontrolled and also increases the risk of lung infections due to a weakened immune system. In an effort to identify pilgrims who may potentially develop complications, the medical team this season has introduced a mobile

ceases to be a member of the political party under which he was elected. Fuziah also said the matter would be referred to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker for further action regarding their status under the Federal Constitution. Earlier, Rafizi and Nik Nazmi said their decision to vacate their seats before formally leaving PKR was aimed at ensuring compliance with the Anti-Party Hopping Act. Rafizi said the move was carefully structured to avoid triggering anti-hopping provisions or breaching the RM10 million party bond imposed by PKR. “The legal or bond issue only applies if we leave and immediately switch parties while still holding our seats. But we are vacating our seats first and returning the mandate to the people.” The two former ministers also confirmed they had joined Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama), a small political party registered in Penang in 2016 by its founder Tan Gin Theam, which will serve as their new political platform. Rafizi said letters notifying the Dewan Rakyat Speaker of the vacancies in Pandan and Setiawangsa were submitted on Monday, while their resignation letters from PKR were sent to the party secretary-general on Tuesday. Both leaders also indicated they intend to contest their respective constituencies under Bersama in the next general election. for an individual or household to sustain a reasonable standard of living,” he said after the ministry’s monthly assembly yesterday. Asked whether the approach would replace existing income classifications such as B40, M40 and T20, Akmal Nasrullah said no decision has been made as the matter is still at the discussion stage and requires collective agreement at the government level, including from the Cabinet and the National Economic Action Council. He pointed out that one family may have a different Basic Expenditure of Decent Living assessment although it earns the same salary as another. “That is why comparisons based solely on income are sometimes not an apples-to-apples comparison.” He said the calculation does not rely on fixed classifications such as T20 or B40 because two families with the same income may face vastly different levels of financial burden. He added that the approach is seen as more accurate in reflecting the actual capabilities of households, especially for families in urban areas facing higher living costs and commitments despite belonging to higher income groups. – Bernama

o No requirement to fill positions as vacancies occurred within two years of scheduled dissolution of Dewan, Speaker tells Election Commission

The Federal Constitution provides that under the current circumstances, the vacant parliamentary seats may remain unoccupied until the next general election. – SYED AZAHAR SYED OSMAN/THESUN

Lung infections among common maladies affecting Malaysian haj pilgrims MECCA: Lung infections,

Ministry studying fairer approach to determine subsidy, aid eligibility

PUTRAJAYA: The Economy Ministry is studying a fairer and more comprehensive approach to determine eligibility for public aid and subsidies by taking into account net disposable income and the actual commitments of households, instead of relying solely on the existing B40, M40 and T20 classifications. Its minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the approach is being developed based on the Basic Expenditure of Decent Living concept, which enables a more accurate assessment of the actual condition of a household. He said it also takes into account the reality of the current global crisis, which could further increase the cost-of-living burden on the people if prolonged. He added that the approach considers the basic costs of a reasonable standard of living for a household, including residential location, number of dependants and financial commitments that need to be borne. “We are bringing forward discussions on how to assess people’s living capacity not solely based on income. “The income earned must take into account the basic expenditures needed

emergency response units. “If things already seem busy now, actually, we haven’t even reached 50% yet. The real challenge will begin during Masyair .” Despite the operational pressure, Taufik said all personnel are constantly reminded that serving and caring for the guests of Allah is itself a form of worship that carries great rewards. He admitted that the greatest challenge is not only treating patients but also ensuring that the morale of the staff remains strong throughout the long and demanding operations. “Sometimes, there are unconscious patients but when the time for wuquf arrives, they regain consciousness and realise they are in Arafah. Those are among the moments that make us believe that in the Holy Land, there is a strength that is difficult to explain through ordinary logic.” For the 2026 haj season, a total of 224 medical personnel, including specialists, doctors and nurses, have been assigned to the Masyair operations. – Bernama

specialist clinic initiative at pilgrims’ accommodation centres to conduct screenings and close monitoring. He said medical specialists would visit pilgrims to carry out health examinations and identify those who require close observation. “In the past, patients came to us. Now, we go to the patients. This proactive approach not only speeds up the treatment process but also helps the health team identify high-risk pilgrims before they travel to Arafah and Mina.” On preparations for Masyair , Taufik said Malaysian medical personnel are now entering the most challenging phase of operations in the Holy Land, describing the period as the true test of the physical, mental and emotional endurance of both staff and pilgrims. He said nearly half of the healthcare operational burden is concentrated within the five-day Masyair phase involving Arafah, Muzdalifah and Mina, while teams continue actively coordinating the work of specialist doctors, medical officers, pharmacists and