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PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his cabinet’s proposal to invoke an emergency rule supposedly due to the increase in Covid-19 infection and citing the reason why people do not want an election, has been described as absurd , ill-conceived and insincere.
When news broke of a Cabinet proposal to put the nation in an emergency situation, it sparked an unprecedented public outcry, the National Association of Patriots (Patriot) said today.
“There were incessant calls from citizens of all levels of society to denounce the proposal, since the word emergency evokes a feeling of uncertainty, fear and insecurity that will probably affect the daily lives of citizens”, its president Brig-Gen (Rtd ) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji said today in a statement.
“Several of our learned legal minds have given comprehensive views against invoking the emergency rule, as well as numerous NGOs that expressed their disagreement. Patriot is with them. “
If an emergency is imposed, it is a forgotten conclusion that our already struggling economy will go into a tailspin and collapse, he said.
“Business and economic indicators will flash red: more bankruptcies, unemployment, spending cuts, foreclosures, loan defaults, higher private debt, a stock market crash, and a degradation of our economy by rating agencies.
“In addition, there will be a worsening of social ills such as more robberies, robberies and greater financial and emotional limitations that families face. Families that depend on handouts will get worse and face more difficulties.
“Simply to try to contain the spread of the coronavirus infection by imposing an emergency rule and justifying it by saying that the people are against the elections; what an idiot, ”added Mohamed Arshad.
He said there are much better ways to combat the current spike of infection, such as blocking a specific location or partial blocking.
“The implementation of the mitigation strategy at one point was fortuitous and showed a double standard, which generated mistrust towards politicians. Most Malaysians abide by the law and abide by the imposed regulations.
“Fighting the scourge of this epidemic requires the full participation and support of all parties, creeds and colors. We have capable and intelligent people who do not belong to the ruling circle. The government leadership must work hard on its confidence deficit and sincerely reach out.
“Furthermore, what good can the Prime Minister-led National Security Council offer in an emergency rule when the real problem lies in the motive and sincerity of the government’s leadership to ask for an emergency rule?” added.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) urged the government of Perikatan Nasional (PN) to re-agree to its proposal.
He said that, instead, the government should respect its duty and responsibility to respect the rule of law and protect the fundamental freedoms of the people guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.
“The Emergency Proclamation proposed under the guise of containing Covid-19 is unconstitutional and simply unjustifiable, especially as the public has largely complied with movement control orders and standard operating procedures (SOPs) implemented by the government,” he said in a statement yesterday.
“The current measures taken by the Government to prevent infections in the country and strict compliance with SOPs by everyone would be enough to contain the pandemic.
As stated in the National Palace press release today, Suhakam notes that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong will soon consult with the Malaysian rulers to discuss the proposed Emergency Proclamation raised by the Prime Minister.
Echoing Suhakam’s statement was the Platform for CSO Reform, where a joint statement from 76 organizations including Pusat KOMAS, Center for Independent Journalism (CIJ), Bersih 2.0, Aliran, MTUC Sarawak & Sarawak Bank Employees’ Union, PROHAM, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese The Assembly Hall (KLSCAH), the G25 and the Association of Women Lawyers are equally concerned about the news of a possible emergency declaration.
He said the Malays were not fooled by the suggestion that a state of emergency was required to combat the pandemic.
“Malays from all walks of life have sacrificed to get Malaysia to where it is today. Those on the front lines have sacrificed to keep Covid-19 at bay. The PN cannot be allowed to deliberately undermine everything we have sacrificed for, ”he said.
“A democratic Malaysia governed by the rule of law is what we are fighting for, and it should be what remains regardless of what political disagreement Malaysians may have with each other.”
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