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KUALA LUMPUR: Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa advised Port Dickson MP Anwar Ibrahim to refer to the Federal Constitution before issuing any statements on speculation that the government wanted to declare a state of emergency yesterday.
Annuar, who is also the secretary general of Barisan Nasional, said that the president of the PKR should read Article 150 of the Federal Constitution, which explains the various types of emergencies.
“When matters that touch the subject of national security, the economy and others are listed, their interpretations should be referred to legal experts. Is this Covid-19 pandemic not included in the category of emergency and security?
“Thirty-two countries around the world have already declared a state of emergency.
“Malaysia hasn’t done it yet because we believe we can still run the country … also, I still haven’t said that the government will declare a state of emergency,” he told reporters while reviewing MyGrocer @ Wilayah operations on the People’s Project of Housing (PPR) in Kampung Baru Air Panas, Setapak, here today.
I was commenting on yesterday’s statement by Anwar, who allegedly said that an emergency declaration is only made when there is an element of threat to national security. Anwar said that if the government was the source of the security threat, the emergency measures would be a step back that the dictatorship would allow.
Annuar said that the government had not decided on the declaration of emergency in the country and needed the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong before it was implemented.
” When you mention emergencies, the public imagines a ‘curfew’, like the May 13 emergency, but we forgot about the floods in Manik Urai, Kelantan, some time ago.
“Why didn’t the government declare an emergency? This is called a flood emergency and there are several types of emergencies.
“Anyway, we hope… the government has not made any decision because everything must follow the law. If the government has not made any decision, but we have punished ourselves by saying that the government wants to be a dictator, that I don’t think is fair, “he said.
However, Annuar said that if the government decides to declare a state of emergency, it must have a proper explanation, such as the specification (or type) of emergency and who would rule the country during the implementation of the emergency.
“I see Anwar’s statement as that of a layman. He said there was nothing to disturb public order.
“Rightly so, don’t punish before things happen… he predicts himself and imposes the punishment himself. That’s not good. I think it is an unethical act.
“Also, Anwar has to accept the fact that he is also involved in causing this current crisis,” he said.
A total of 178 public and private homes in Kuala Lumpur will benefit from the MyGrocer @ Wilayah program, which is a mobile marketplace that sells kitchen items and daily staples at low prices to lower the cost of living for the low-income group. (B40).
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