Opposition MPs question need for emergency when MCO sufficient
The king's announcement this morning consenting to an emergency declaration proposed by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin provoked strong reactions from lawmakers who questioned its impact on Parliament and the economy.
Muhyiddin announced that Parliament would be suspended and no elections would be held during the emergency period...
The king's announcement this morning consenting to an emergency declaration proposed by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin provoked strong reactions from lawmakers who questioned its impact on Parliament and the economy.
Muhyiddin announced that Parliament would be suspended and no elections would be held during the emergency period.
"Emergency declared until Aug 1. Please stay calm everyone.
"Most if not all of us have been caught completely off guard by this extraordinary measure," Subang MP Wong Chen said on Facebook.
He said yesterday's movement control order (MCO) announcement was already a necessary punch to the stomach for the economy and this new development is not going to help.
DAP's Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh drew attention to the plight of businesses.
"My heart breaks for every business owner who has been struggling since 2020 and to enter into 2021 at the onset of an emergency with eight months being robbed!" she tweeted.
Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto questioned why Muhyiddin pushed for an emergency when he had announced an MCO for two weeks in six states.
"If MCO is to contain the Covid-19 pandemic then why the need for a state of emergency?
"After such a long budget debate for weeks on end and ministers stating how the money will be channelled etc, this would be the best time to implement what was promised, what was planned for the rakyat," she told Malaysiakini.
Meanwhile, Tanjung Malim MP Chang Lih Kang said the declaration of emergency is totally unnecessary and unacceptable.
"A targeted MCO is more than enough to curb the pandemic. Muhyiddin should resign for exposing our country to greater economic risk," he tweeted to Muhyiddin with the hashtag #LeaveGracefully.
Hulu Selangor MP June Leow also blasted the decision, saying: "No emergency declared for the flood situation in the East Coast, but emergency to save Muhyiddin's position."
Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman weighed in saying that the emergency declaration was much too drastic and hurried.
"The reaction from the people also reflects that this emergency plan was not done well. The cabinet should have had a thorough initial discussion," lamented Syed Saddiq, whose Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) party had been denied registration by the Registrar of Societies.
He urged the government to present plans for emergencies.
"First, the government should call on the opposition bloc to join an independent special committee to ensure governance and direction of the country will move smoothly and steadily," he said in a statement today.
"The government must act fairly and equitably with the opposition because the emergency was officially declared to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Second, the government should immediately present plans to protect the economic welfare of the people," he added, saying that while the MCO was proposed for 14 days, he expected the period to be extended.
"In fact, the declaration convinced me that it will continue until August.
"So, the government should provide a comprehensive moratorium protection to the people," he said.
Syed Saddiq added that even those in the opposition do not want to hold elections now because of the uncertainty of the health and economic crisis that has befallen the country.
DAP's Klang MP Charles Santiago was in no mood to mince his words saying that the combined MCO and emergency proclamation were designed to extend Muhyiddin's political life given that he has lost parliamentary majority and more Umno lawmakers were considering withholding support for the premier.
"Isn’t this rather telling? The executive functions together with the judiciary (excluded) but the legislature is technically suspended till further notice?
Charles said that the role of Parliament was critical at this time in order to ensure transparency, human rights and democracy in the affairs of the state.
"This is a clever way for the executive to bypass all forms of accountability and good governance practices," he said.
He reminded Muhyiddin that rolling back democratic practices would have a negative impact on Malaysia's global standing and foreign investment.
"We are not an island. The world is watching," he said.
