KUALA LUMPUR – The government today tabled a motion to repeal the emergency ordinances for debate by MPs and winding up by the relevant ministries in the Dewan Rakyat.
It covers the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021; Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021; Emergency (Employees’ Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations and Amenities) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021; and, Emergency (Essential Powers) (No. 2) Ordinance 2021.
In addition, it also covers the Emergency (Essential Powers) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021; Emergency (Offenders Compulsory Attendance) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021; and, the Emergency (National Trust Fund) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, in tabling the motion, said the emergency proclamation and any ordinance promulgated under Clause (2B) of Article 150 of the federal constitution should be tabled before both houses of Parliament.
“The government will ensure that the repeal of these seven ordinances will not affect the handling of the (Covid-19) pandemic threat for the welfare of the people, security and public order, as well as the country’s economic recovery,” he said.
Wan Junaidi said the proclamation of emergency was made to enable ordinances to be promulgated under Clause (2B) of Article 150 to provide the necessary powers to curb and prevent the spread of Covid-19 more seriously in the country.
He underscored that this was because the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic that hit the country starting September last year showed a sharp increase in positive cases and deaths.
As of yesterday, Malaysia’s case tally was at 2,426,050 while 77,305 cases were active with the death toll standing at 28,354.
As an example, Wan Junaidi said through the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021, temporary acquisition of land, buildings and movable property were made to house and manage Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients.
“For this purpose, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Children’s Specialist Hospital belonging to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia was taken over,” he said.
In addition, according to him, since the emergency came into force from March 12 to October 7, 30 investigation papers were opened under Section 4 (1) of the ordinance for enforcement action against individuals or parties who were found uploading or spreading untrue news about Covid-19 as well as the proclamation of emergency. – Bernama, October 25, 2021
