KUALA LUMPUR – The Special Independent Emergency Committee (SIEC) has yet to come up with a recommendation for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, on whether the current state of emergency should end.
Nevertheless, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) members who are part of the SIEC, have submitted their views to the committee.
In a statement endorsed by PH members sitting in the SIEC, they maintained that the movement control order (MCO) and emergency, are different and separate approaches towards battling the pandemic.
They added that the current state of emergency is unnecessary, and the best approach to curbing the spread of the Covid-19 virus is a strict MCO.
“We are also of the view that parliament must resume and play its role as a check and balance mechanism, suitable with our parliamentary democracy system in our country,” the statement read.
The statement by the PH coalition is endorsed by Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Kuala Selangor MP Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, and Seremban MP Anthony Loke.
These three opposition MPs are the only members of the PH coalition forming part of the 19 members currently sitting in the SIEC.
Yesterday, SIEC chairman Tun Arifin Zakaria had an audience with the Agong but did not disclose what was discussed.
The committee was formed pursuant to the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021, tasked with advising the Agong as to whether the emergency should end on August 1. – The Vibes, June 16, 2021