Following this great big surge in Covid-19 infections recently, thanks in part to the Sabah elections last month, there’ve been growing calls for elections to be put on hold. At least for the time being.

If you recall, there’s the matter of the Sarawak state elections, which have to be called by September next year, a growing feeling that snap general elections may be called soon, and the small matter of the Batu Sapi by-election, which has to happen in less than two months. 
 
Now the first two elections are not due anytime soon, so calls for them to be pushed aren’t so far fetched. Sarawak government has till mid-2021 to seek fresh mandate while MooMoo need not seek a general election till 2023!

It’s a different matter entirely for the Batu Sapi by-election. The seat was made vacant when incumbent, former minister Liew Vui Keong, passed away recently. According to the Election Commission, le Federal Constitution mandates by-elections be held within 60 days upon vacancy of the seat. 
 
But there are other ways of going this, it would seem. For instance, Umno Youth has called on BN, Perikatan Nasional, and all other parties not to contest the seat, handing the win to Liew’s party Warisan. Such a suggestion even got the nod from former Bersih co-chair S. Ambiga.
 
This is, of course, easier said than done. There’ve been very few instances where political parties don’t want to fight out a by-election. And then there’s that small matter of this being Sabah, arguably the state that sees the most number of independents taking part in elections. Just take the recent state election for example, where multiple-cornered fights, including two where there were nine candidates, took place. 
 
Now new youth-based party Muda’s head honcho is taking this suggestion one step further, mounting a campaign to call for a pause on all forms of warring politics and elections till the health crisis is behind us. Not an easy call for our uncle and aunties in politics to take up since this would mean no katak-ing, no coups, takeovers or power grabs. Mission impossible for some, we’re sure. 

Instead, the #PauseMalaysia call by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s movement wants all politicians – government, opposition, even independents – to gather round the discussion table and join forces for the sake of the people’s welfare.
 
It’s a nice sentiment indeed but is it as good as it sounds? Now opinions are flying about social media and our news feed by people arguing all sides of the coin as to whether the ceasefire could work, should work, or not, or if Boy Wonder Syed Saddiq and team had the right motives to begin with.

Analyst Bridget Welsh, for example, pointed out that reality of it all is that Covid or no, political patronage and politicking will continue, with some parties already preparing for elections. 

Of course, cynics wonder if bro Syed Saddiq and crew aren’t trying to score some political brownie points along the way. Others, like Uncle Lim Kit Siang’s pol-sec and rights lawyer Syahredzan Johan warn this would only serve to give scheming politicos a chance to capitalise on the situation.

It would be in their best interest now, he said, especially since the ruling parties are getting shelled after the Sabah move. He pointed out that many ignored the earlier olive branch by DAP for all parties to put aside differences to allow the country to focus on recovery.

As one cheeky netizen pointed out, Malaysia hasn’t seen such coming together by politicians since the Sheraton Move in February! Meow!

In a well-argued counterpoint, however, former journo and now relatively prominent educationist, Cheryl Fernando, said a pause need not mean a pause on accountability demanded of errant leaders, just a halt on power struggles.

Now that’s a cause we can truly get behind.