KUALA LUMPUR – As the country waits for a possible royal proclamation on an emergency rule, Malaysians are pleading with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to not accede to the government’s request.
Hundreds of messages poured in on the Istana Negara’s official Facebook page since yesterday afternoon after the palace issued a statement that the Agong would be consulting the Conference of Rulers on “proposals” made by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
The rulers are scheduled to meet at 2.30pm today in Istana Negara before His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah delivers his decision.
Malaysians are, however, unimpressed by Muhyiddin’s rumoured emergency proposal, with many suggesting that such a move will undermine the country’s parliamentary democracy, and made for personal interests at the expense of the people’s wellbeing.
Facebook user Pak Tam said Muhyiddin and the Perikatan Nasional government are merely using the health and economic emergency excuse for their own political survival, amid growing speculation that the prime minister may have lost confidence in the Dewan Rakyat.
“The proposal is also to cover up the failures of the cabinet in administering the country, as well as a temporary measure to halt internal political bickering amongst themselves,” he said.
Meanwhile, S Adil Haqq said: “Please let there be no emergency Tuanku. If there is, the one who will benefit is the prime minister, and the ones who will suffer are the rakyat. May the rulers be together with the people in rejecting the emergency.”
Rashid Samad also believed Muhyiddin’s emergency proposal was made because his government wanted to remain in power despite having failed in their administration.
“If there is in fact an emergency, then the whole cabinet should be dissolved and the Agong ought to appoint new ministers who are qualified. Make a mixed government, with no opposition,” he wrote.
Facebook user Zawawi Mughni feared that a state of emergency could be the final nail in the coffin for many Malaysians already struggling to make ends meet since the start of the pandemic earlier this year.
Another Facebook user Nurul Aqilah said many have been affected both financially and mentally by the pandemic, and that this should be the government’s priority instead of calling for emergency.
Sources had said a special cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday morning had decided to call for an emergency rule amid the current spike in Covid-19 cases.
Following the meeting, Muhyiddin went to Kuantan to meet the Agong at the Pahang palace to present the government’s request.
Various quarters have since slammed the proposal, which will see the Parliament suspended, saying it was merely a desperate attempt by Muhyiddin to hold on to power with the Budget 2021 on the line and the possibility of a no-confidence motion being tabled. – The Vibes, October 25, 2020
