Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today urged MPs to send a memo to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, calling for the Ruler to end the state of emergency in Malaysia.
Anwar also called on his fellow lawmakers to appeal to the King that a parliamentary session be held before Jan 31 to debate the declaration of emergency, Covid-19 and the economic uncertainty in Malaysia.
Interestingly, the Port Dickson MP’s statement comes barely 24 hours after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s former press secretary Endie Shazlie Akbar tweeted: “YDPA boleh approve darurat, YDPA juga boleh un-approve darurat. Bincangkan.”
YDPA boleh approve darurat, YDPA juga boleh un-approve darurat. Bincangkan.
— Endie (@The_Endie) January 13, 2021
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had decreed that a state of emergency be implemented until Aug 1 to control the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. Following the decree, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin addressed the nation on Tuesday morning.
“The suggestion by the Prime Minister is without legitimacy based on the declining number of MPs who support the government,” said Anwar.
“The MPs do not dispute the reasonable actions taken to battle Covid-19. Nevertheless, a majority of the MPs stressed that allocations in Budget 2021 should focus on health, equipment and allocations for health and security frontliners.”
The Port Dickson MP added that current views and allocations were sufficient to stop Covid-19 from spreading further, including the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) and the Conditional MCO.
“It doesn’t need a state of emergency (to be called). The economic turmoil is of concern as unemployment and poverty rates continue to increase.
“A state of emergency will result in the economic situation to be in an even more worrying state.”
He hoped the MPs will submit their appeal letters to the King by tomorrow.
Bring back moratorium, urges Lembah Pantai MP
Fahmi Fadzil has urged Prime Minster Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to get financial institutions to implement moratoriums automatically until June 31 as many people will be severely affected by the latest Movement Control Order.
The Lembah Pantai MP also suggested that those residing in public housing (PPR) need not pay rent will June 31. He urged the government to allocate more money in Social Security Organisation’s Wage Subsidy Programme 3.0 and to ensure more sectors qualify for such assistance.
“The government must quickly unveil steps and additional help to ensure Malaysians, especially those in MCO areas, get the much-needed support,” he added.
‘Datuk’, friend arrested after hitting young couple at eatery
Police have arrested an alleged ‘Datuk’ and his friend who had slapped and hit a youth and his girlfriend at an eatery in Tropicana Avenue, Petaling Jaya on Jan 12.
The man became angry after the young couple told him to lower his voice as he was talking loudly in the restaurant. Videos of the Jan 12 incident have been widely shared since.
Cricket icon Dr Harjit Singh honoured
Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar has consented to rename the Johor Cricket Academy & Oval to Datuk Dr Harjit Singh Johor Cricket Academy & Oval.
This was in response to a suggestion by the Johor Cricket Council through its deputy president Datuk Avinderjit Singh.
Dr Harjit, a national cricket icon, passed away in October last year. He was 70.
Jog in neighbourhood, cycle not more than 10km from home
The Youth and Sports Ministry today said those living in places with Movement Control Order can only:
- jog, not more than two people together, within the neighbourhood.
- cycle alone not more than 10km from home.
Those intending to jog or exercise can do so between 6am and 8pm or based on the local council’s directive.
The ministry said face masks are not required while jogging or cycling but must be worn before or after the activities.
