‘Emergency’ move an ‘overkill’ – Opposition
KUALA LUMPUR: Amidst rumours of a move by the Cabinet to implement emergency laws to fight the Covid-19 pandemic in the country, several Opposition leaders have lashed out against the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.
Calling the move an overkill, they also reminded Putrajaya that the country already has sufficient laws to deal with the pandemic, in addition to a need for a public health-focused approach.
“We need a strategic public health response to the third wave of Covid-19 and effective communication. Not a ‘legislative-political intervention’ where Putrajaya usurps power of opposition MPs to check and balance, and legitimate dissent!
“A huge admission of failure!” former health minister and Kuala Selangor MP Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad posted on Twitter.
Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh also said the move, if true, would send a wrong message to the global community.
“Overkill considering we still have many non-red zones in Malaysia.
“Sends a wrong message about Malaysia to the rest of the world, the economy will take a longer time to recover if this is true,” Yeoh told Malay Mail when contacted.
Her view was echoed by former minister and Bakri MP Yeo Bee Yin, who said on Twitter: “Declaring emergency will not bring stability to build business confidence to revive our wounded economy.
“Declaring emergency is not necessary to fight current public health crisis as we already have Act 342,” she added, referring to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah demanded members of the government to clarify use of emergency laws.
“Be clear when you throw around words like darurat and ‘emergency’. Public’s trust deficit is increasing - Don’t bungle up when you have all the resources to do better!” she posted on Twitter, tagging Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.
Maria also asked if this means that Muhyiddin would approve the Budget 2021 scheduled to be tabled on November 6, without the due parliamentary process.
“Would PM and Putrajaya use unconstitutional powers?” she asked.