Economic or health emergency expected to be declared (updated)
NATION
THE STAR
Friday, 23 Oct 20203:56 PM MYT
By WONG CHUN WAI
PETALING JAYA: A state of emergency is expected to be announced as early as Friday evening (Oct 23) in a move to step up the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic that has spiked sharply over the past one week, as well as to put a stop to political squabbles.
It is understood that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yassin has sought an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Abu Bakar in Pekan, Pahang Friday afternoon.
This audience is said to communicate the Cabinet decision to propose the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat following its special meeting that ended at around 1pm Friday.
Muhyiddin is expected to present the proposal to the King for consideration at 8pm.
Highly-placed sources said Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah would have the final say as to when the state of emergency will take effect.
"His Majesty is expected to meet his brother Rulers soon to get their views too but it suffice to say that they will support any decisions decided by the King," a source said.
A check with certain Rulers has confirmed that they had been informed of a special meeting of the Rulers, not to be confused with the Conference of Rulers.
Officials at Putrajaya emphasised that only political activities will be affected by the Emergency.
"It will be business as usual. Economic activities will carry on and there will be no curfews.
"In a nutshell, life goes on as we know it. This is for the good of the country in fighting Covid-19," the source said.
One official said that without such a legal move, the Election Commission would need to conduct the Batu Sapi by-election.
"We can't risk having a by-election now. It will be irresponsible to put the lives of EC officials and voters at risk now with the pandemic raging in Sabah."
Friday, 23 Oct 20203:56 PM MYT
By WONG CHUN WAI
PETALING JAYA: A state of emergency is expected to be announced as early as Friday evening (Oct 23) in a move to step up the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic that has spiked sharply over the past one week, as well as to put a stop to political squabbles.
It is understood that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yassin has sought an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Abu Bakar in Pekan, Pahang Friday afternoon.
This audience is said to communicate the Cabinet decision to propose the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat following its special meeting that ended at around 1pm Friday.
Muhyiddin is expected to present the proposal to the King for consideration at 8pm.
Highly-placed sources said Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah would have the final say as to when the state of emergency will take effect.
"His Majesty is expected to meet his brother Rulers soon to get their views too but it suffice to say that they will support any decisions decided by the King," a source said.
A check with certain Rulers has confirmed that they had been informed of a special meeting of the Rulers, not to be confused with the Conference of Rulers.
Officials at Putrajaya emphasised that only political activities will be affected by the Emergency.
"It will be business as usual. Economic activities will carry on and there will be no curfews.
"In a nutshell, life goes on as we know it. This is for the good of the country in fighting Covid-19," the source said.
One official said that without such a legal move, the Election Commission would need to conduct the Batu Sapi by-election.
"We can't risk having a by-election now. It will be irresponsible to put the lives of EC officials and voters at risk now with the pandemic raging in Sabah."
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