KOTA KINABALU – The implementation of the emergency rule has failed to reduce the number of Covid-19 infections, Sabah Wanita DAP head Jannie Lasimbang said today.
The former state Law and Native Affairs assistant minister said the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government has used the declaration of emergency rule to prevent Covid-19 transmission – but with the cases escalating again, it is obvious that they have failed to do so.
“People are getting exasperated,” she said in a statement here today. “Clearly, the PN government’s failure has no solution to prevent the Covid-19 virus from spreading, and people are dealing with hardships and financial resources are getting scarce.
“With higher Covid-19 cases, schools may be closed down and business cannot run. Hawkers have already started strong protests about not being allowed to delve in small-scale Ramadan sales.”
Lasimbang, who is MP for Kapayan, questioned whether the emergency declaration was meant to save people or merely a political ploy for PN to survive.
“Now, the PN government appears to be arbitrarily victimising businesses and taxpayers that are already under economic recession – just to fill in their coffers,” she said.
The vaccination of cabinet members and MPs, parliament should already be completed. There should be no more excuses. The PN government must stop stealing the democratic rights of all Malaysians.
Lasimbang also noted that the newly-introduced Section 103B of the Income Tax Act by PN practically forces taxpayers to “pay first, talk later”, as they cannot even plead to the High Court for a stay order.
The MP said the fact that the PN government is running short of funds can be attributed both to its failure to manage the pandemic as well as to its bloated Cabinet that is eating up valuable resources.
PN has reportedly spent RM622 billion on various Covid-19 economic stimulus packages but have failed to impact Malaysia’s economy positively and reach the needy due to incompetence and bringing about economic and political instabilities that is now driving away investors, she said.
“The vaccination of cabinet members and MPs, parliament should already be completed. There should be no more excuses. The PN government must stop stealing the democratic rights of all Malaysians,” Lasimbang said. – The Vibes, April 19, 2021
