Putrajaya seeking to implement emergency measures in Covid fight?
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin met the yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, yesterday in Kuantan, Pahang amidst rumours that the Federal Government was seeking to impose emergency measures to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, but was not expected to make an announcement yet.
The meeting was believed to be for the premier to seek assent from the King to invoke emergency powers.
Muhyiddin had earlier yesterday morning chaired a special Cabinet meeting in Putrajaya to decide on emergency measures to ensure that the upcoming Budget session in Parliament does not result in snap elections if it fails to pass.
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) government headed by Muhyiddin holds a slim majority in Parliament and failure to pass the Budget would be tantamount to a no-confidence vote in his government and could trigger a snap poll.
Observers have said holding a general election amid Malaysia’s resurgent wave of coronavirus infections could prove disastrous.
Sources with knowledge of these discussions told The Straits Times that an “economic emergency” could be proclaimed to ensure that government spending to curb Covid-19 - which has seen total cases doubling this month alone - is not jeopardised by an increasingly unstable political atmosphere.
“It will not be similar to the curfews and military presence we had after the 1969 race riots.
“Instead, normal life under the movement control order (MCO) will continue, without politics getting in the way of dealing with a health crisis,” said one source on the condition of anonymity as the matters are official government secrets. A top ministerial aide told ST that the Cabinet’s decision to invoke emergency powers was brought to the National Security Council meeting yesterday afternoon.
“The special Cabinet meeting was to ensure we have a Budget 2021 that can be implemented. We have to wait for the PM’s audience with the King,” he said, refusing to comment further on the agenda.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the vehicle carrying the Prime Minister was seen leaving Istana Abdulaziz at 7.10 pm yesterday, two hours after it arrived.
Also spotted was the vehicle carrying Chief of Defence Force General Tan Sri Affendi Buang, and several other official cars belonging to Pahang government.
Bernama was made to understand that the entourage was leaving straight to the Kuantan Armed Forces base to board a plane back to Kuala Lumpur.
Affendi was also believed to have attended the Cabinet meeting.