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PETALING JAYA: The government’s decision to amend the Emergency Ordinance to allow increased spending without having to go through Dewan Rakyat or state assemblies is extremely worrying, says Umno Vice President Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He said that a state of emergency is not a “free pass” to ignore responsibility and transparency in any situation, and that the legal validity of the amendment to the ordinance does not equate to moral legitimacy.
“Any action that is considered valid during an emergency must be based on values, morals and principles.
“Furthermore, it is even more crucial when it comes to spending public funds. No matter how complex, complicated and dire the situation is, the government should not be able to escape rigorous scrutiny by spending the money of the people and the wealth of the nation.” it said in a statement on Friday (April 2).
He said that the Malaysian government is not governed by a military junta and therefore should behave and act like a government for the people.
“It is much more critical for a government to be vigilant and responsible when spending the nation’s revenues during an Emergency due to the suspension of the checks and balances and the Federal Constitution,” he said.
He said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin must do the right thing for the nation and in the interests of Malaysia’s democracy.
Under a new amendment to the Emergency Ordinance 2021 that was published on March 31, all supplemental appropriations from the federal and state government during the current state of emergency can be approved by the Treasury, chief ministers, or mentris kissing without being present at the Dewan Rakyat or state assemblies.
The new Section 10 allows all appropriations to be approved without being presented to the Dewan Rakyat or state assemblies, while the Treasury or state heads of government are empowered to endorse them.
On January 11, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah declared a national emergency to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Emergency is expected to end in August.
The parliamentary and state assemblies are suspended by virtue of this proclamation.
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