KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be filing a court application to allow Parliament to convene.
Speaking in a Facebook live video today, the Port Dickson MP said he will file the application today, as there are provisions in the federal constitution that allow parliamentary sittings during a state of emergency.
“Last year, the Perikatan Nasional government had dodged and delayed Parliament (sittings) multiple times to avoid the challenge to its non-existent majority. This year, it avoided Parliament again, hiding behind the emergency declaration.
“The result is the needless suffering of the Malaysian people. That is why we are appealing to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to rescind the emergency order.
“Today, I will file an application to the court on behalf of Pakatan Harapan members and the opposition to ensure that Parliament is allowed to continue.”
Anwar also slammed Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz for giving out misleading and irresponsible statements that the movement control orders (MCO) will not have any negative impact on the economy.
“Many sectors, including construction and manufacturing, are affected.
“If a full lockdown is implemented after (the MCO ends on) February 4, then the optimistic statements by the finance minister are clearly flawed and unreasonable,” he said, referring to the EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Eurocham) letter that was made public yesterday.
“It’s nothing more than lies and obfuscation. Investor confidence stems from good public policy and transparency, as well as the rule of law.
“The government’s handling of the MCO, especially the Covid-19 outbreak after the Sabah election, is utterly disorganised and inconsistent.”
It was reported yesterday that Putrajaya may announce “a shutdown/strict lockdown” after the reinstated MCO deadline if Covid-19 infections continue to rise, according to a meeting summary dated January 22 between the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) and Eurocham.
Anwar also questioned the government’s decision in allowing the manufacturing sector to continue operations, after the letter revealed that the Health Ministry had told Miti that the sector is the source of the majority of Covid-19 transmissions in Malaysia.
“If there is an admission by the government that the majority of Covid-19 cases is in foreign worker communities and dormitories, under what pretext does the government believe the current MCO – which allows these sectors to remain open – can reduce infections?
“There is no clarity, leaving highly contagious sectors open, serving only to prolong the MCO at the expense of millions of Malaysians, who are doing their best to stop the spread (of the infection).” – The Vibes, January 25, 2021
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