KUALA LUMPUR – The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) today warned that an emergency proclamation could drag the royalty into partisan conflicts, risking political unrest like those in Thailand and Indonesia.
“It (a state of emergency) will magnify the political crisis by dragging the Palaces into partisan conflicts, as the (emergency) proclamation has to be issued by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, risking political unrest as in Thailand and Indonesia,” it said in a statement.
The electoral watchdog said it is unconstitutional for the government to use emergency powers in expectation of failure to pass the nation’s budget.
Referring to such a move as a “self-coup”, Bersih 2.0 said Article 150 of the federal constitution permits a state of emergency when there is imminent danger threatening the security, economic life, or public order of the country – government survival is not permissible grounds for an emergency proclamation.
Instead, Bersih 2.0 recommended the prime minister to extend an olive branch to the opposition.
“We urge Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to reach out to parliamentary opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan (PH) as the official opposition for a confidence and supply agreement (CSA).
“If Muhyiddin insists on not having a CSA bill with the official opposition, he must resign if his budget is defeated.
“Malaysia will not have to go for a snap election or risk not having a budget, as the Dewan Rakyat can pass a vote of confidence for another MP to form a new government and continue with the budget,” the statement said. – The Vibes, October 25, 2020
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