KUALA LUMPUR – The efficacy of the state of emergency implemented on January 11 was brought into question by Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Kulim Bandar Baharu-PH) at the Dewan Rakyat today.
During the debate on emergency ordinances, Saifuddin Nasution reminded the Dewan Rakyat that the government’s excuse for the emergency was because the Covid-19 pandemic is a threat to public health and the economy.
“During the emergency, there were no elections because we had to save lives.
“Now, we are going to have a state election in Melaka on November 20 – that’s quite paradoxical.
“It’s like the government is not trying to save lives, as we are forced to have an election we didn’t ask for,” Saifuddin Nasution told the Dewan Rakyat.
Meanwhile, on the emergency’s aim in flattening the curve, Saifuddin Nasution criticised the emergency for not achieving its objective.
He pointed out that before January 11, positive cases stood at 2,232 – and during the end of the emergency, infections soared to 17,000.
Saifuddin Nasution questioned the government’s decision to implement an emergency to control the pandemic, despite the lack of data and science backing.
“From our findings – from more than 60,000 Covid-19-related publications – we found that there are no references towards emergencies as a method to control the pandemic,” Saifuddin Nasution said.
In addition, M. Kula Segaran (Ipoh Barat-PH) brought into question the government’s sincerity for implementing the state of emergency.
“These emergency ordinances are put forth by the government, for the government.
“(This is) because at that time in January, it seemed that the government lost its majority,” Kula Segaran said.
He slammed the former Perikatan Nasional government’s emergency as it was used to stifle democracy in the country.
Kula Segaran said the use of an emergency to suspend Parliament may be the darkest mark in Malaysia’s history.
Sharing a similar sentiment with Saifuddin Nasution, he said the government made things worse by stating that the emergency was used to control the pandemic – when instead, deaths and infections rose. – The Vibes, October 25, 2021
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