KUALA LUMPUR – Questions are being raised over whether the cabinet, which convened a special meeting at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) today, has decided to use emergency powers to tackle Covid-19.
When contacted by The Vibes for confirmation on this matter, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions) Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof declined to comment and requested the media to await an announcement.
"No comment. Just wait for the announcement. Thank you," said Redzuan.
It is also widely speculated that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has since rushed to see the Yang Di Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, in Kuantan, to request his assent in announcing a State of Emergency.
Article 150 (1) of the Federal Constitution, which deals with proclamation of emergency, states that “If the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is satisfied that a grave emergency exists whereby the security, or the economic life, or public order in the Federation or any part thereof is threatened, he may issue a Proclamation of Emergency making therein a declaration to that effect.”
Among the officials seen leaving the Perdana Putra complex after the meeting were Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun and Chief of the Defence Forces (Panglima Angkatan Tentera) General Tan Sri Affendi Buang.
Earlier, the daily press conference by Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah scheduled for this evening was cancelled.
A notice was sent out around 11am, saying Dr Noor Hisham will hold his regular presser to report the country’s latest Covid-19 updates at 5.30pm.
However, a ministry spokesman later said it will not take place, without specifying why.
Ministers stay tight-lipped after cabinet meeting
After the cabinet meeting, none of the ministers spoke to any of the journalists camped outside Perdana Putra’s front gate.
Political pundits and observers had speculated that the meeting was to discuss a possible cabinet reshuffle and Budget 2021.
Speculation were rife that the meeting was called to discuss a potential cabinet reshuffle amid the current political imbroglio, and also the possibility of a state of emergency being declared given the coronavirus situation.
Talk of a reshuffle was also buoyed after Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced a “political ceasefire” within his own party and other political parties.
He had apparently come under fire from his own division chiefs and grassroot leaders after stating that it is all right for Umno MPs to back PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as a possible prime ministerial candidate to replace Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister.
It is also rumoured that a snap election was discussed among ministers at today’s meet.
Free Malaysia Today, quoting a source, said the meet was to discuss Budget 2021.
No statement has been issued by PMO or any other cabinet member on the meeting. – The Vibes, October 23, 2020
