KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will challenge the government’s nationwide emergency, the declaration of which he described as reckless, desperate and devoid of rational basis.
This comes just three days after he wrote to all MPs, urging them to appeal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to rescind the proclamation and call for a parliamentary sitting soon.
“I have announced (previously) our intention to appeal to the Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, to defend the federal constitution and the rakyat from this egregious abuse of power.
“Also, our legal team has been instructed to prepare the application to challenge the prime minister and the government of Malaysia over their baseless declaration of a state of emergency,” he said in a statement today.
The Agong on Tuesday consented to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s request for a proclamation of emergency in the government’s bid to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.
The prime minister, in a national address later the same day, said the emergency is necessary to address the pandemic, a day after he announced stricter movement controls nationwide.
Anwar today said the declaration has caused a chasm between the people and government, “where the fear of the blurring line between democracy and dictatorship is upheld by Muhyiddin’s own appeal to ‘trust him’”.
“Can trust even be appealed to, as it has become obvious that this emergency has less to do with combating the pandemic than clinging to power?
“Are we to trust the words of an individual who betrayed his prime minister (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad), his party, and by extension, his coalition, and most criminally, the trust and mandate of the rakyat?”
Expressing concern over the pandemic, he said a new unity must arise from strong leadership, effective governance and a public that trusts the government.
The PKR president added that in times of crisis, the people need transparency and reassurance, and not sporadically planned announcements that have no clarity, planning or sympathy for their needs.
“Muhyiddin and his government have brought Malaysia to the brink of insanity… They should be offering a consistent, detailed plan. A plan that calls for action, and holds itself to milestones and goals.
“The government asks us all to sacrifice, (says) that we are in this together, yet, it gives no evidence that it is suffering along with the people, that it stands with the people.”
Anwar also urged all Malaysians to not despair, to do their part in fighting the pandemic, and to abide by all standard operating procedures, so as to relieve the burden on the healthcare system.– The Vibes, January 17, 2021
