Emergency gives Muhyiddin absolute power, warns Pakatan Harapan
Published on: Tuesday, January 12, 2021
By: FMT
DAP’s Lim Guan Eng, PKR’s Anwar Ibrahim and Amanah’s Mohamad Sabu says the existing laws, including the MCO, were sufficient to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
PETALING JAYA: The Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council has rejected the reasons given by the prime minister for the implementation of a nationwide emergency.
It said in a statement signed by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu that present laws, including the movement control order, were sufficient to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Citing Muhyiddin Yassin’s example of having powers to take over private hospitals to assist with Covid-19 cases, they said this would not be necessary as private hospitals were ready to help the government.
“Emergency powers are not needed to get their cooperation,” they said in the statement.
On the question of holding elections, they said the move to declare emergency in a particular parliamentary constituency or a state seat was adequate. They noted that the deadline for Sarawak state elections to be held was months away in August.
“GE15 only needs to be held by 2023,” PH added.
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PH said the move to declare an emergency was, therefore, seen as giving absolute power to the prime minister.
It also raised concerns about the weakening economy and investor confidence, adding this would not help in creating jobs.
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