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PUTRAJAYA: The label itself, a special cabinet meeting, was enough to pique the interest of observers and the public alike.
After all, it is not often that a prime minister calls such a meeting, especially if the cabinet had had its weekly meeting only a couple of days before.
The Cabinet meets every Wednesday, except when Parliament is in session, in which case it meets on Fridays.
Journalists were already on standby outside the Perdana Putra building, which houses the prime minister’s office and the cabinet meeting room, at 8:30 am yesterday. Among the first to arrive were Transport Minister Datuk Seri, Dr Wee Ka Siong, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry. Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee, Unity Minister Datuk Halimah Sadique, and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
The hearing of Chief of the Armed Forces Jen Tan Sri Affendi Buang, Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador and Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun made the media wonder about the purpose of the special Cabinet meeting , which generally involves only ministers, even a vice minister cannot attend on behalf of his minister if the latter is indisposed. Sources had hinted that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin called a special cabinet meeting to discuss the latest on the Covid-19 pandemic.
The past month has seen an increase in the number of new infections, prompting the government to impose a conditional movement control order (MCO) in Sabah, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan.
Sources said that at yesterday’s meeting, the Cabinet discussed various options to intensify the fight against Covid-19, including the possibility of declaring a state of emergency to reduce the increase in infections.
Situation: A minister’s car leaving Perdana Putra (photo, above) after the special Cabinet meeting chaired by Muhyiddin. – MOHD SAHAR MISNI / The Star
A source told The Star that the meeting also discussed the possibility of not presenting the 2021 Budget in Parliament.
“We were told that there would be no presentation of the Budget and that the expenses would be allocated according to the needs,” said the source.
Talks about a possible state of emergency reached members of the media, who were quick to make calls to confirm the news.
Meanwhile, the prime minister flew to Kuantan for an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, further fueling talks about an imminent announcement of a state of emergency.
He was accompanied on the trip by three senior ministers: Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, and Interior Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, as well as Affendi and Abdul Hamid.
Another source told The Star that Muhyiddin had previously planned to call an early election to resolve the current political uncertainty amid the current Covid-19 crisis.
But most ministers disagreed with the idea of an early election because people would blame us (if there was an increase in infections).
“So they decided that declaring an Emergency would be a better option. People may be angry at first, but everything is for the greater good, ”said the source.
Another source said the emergency declaration was pondered over to ensure the upcoming 2021 budget doesn’t go off the rails when it goes to a vote in November.
By convention, if the Budget is not approved in Parliament, it would mean that the government has lost its majority, the source said.
“This could also disrupt government functions because allocations will be delayed,” the source added.
The source also said that despite the political ceasefire announced by Umno President Datuk Seri, Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, amid ongoing tensions between his party and Muhyiddin’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, the latter he did not trust that the truce would last.
There was still a fear of a last-minute move when the 2021 budget comes to a vote on November 23.
Political analyst Dr. Sivamurugan Pandian said the government might consider the current number of Covid-19 infections to require critical and drastic measures, which would include declaring a state of emergency.
He also agreed that declaring an Emergency would reduce the political heat somewhat at a time when dealing with the pandemic and the economy should be top of the government’s mind.
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