DAP: Agong is our last hope against 'ill-conceived' emergency plans

 

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong was the people's last hope to prevent an "ill-conceived" state of emergency from being declared, said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

In a statement today, Lim argued that Putrajaya's purported plans to declare a state of emergency was an attempt by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to "save himself" at the expense of the people, parliamentary democracy and the economy.

"Malaysians will appeal and pray for a decision (by the Agong) where the voice of the ordinary people can be heard," he said.

Lim argued that the purported emergency plans had "clearly" nothing to do with the Covid-19 crisis, basing his assessment by a report published in MCA-controlled daily, The Star.

"(That report) openly admitted that the emergency proclamation (being sought) was to avoid Budget 2021 from being defeated and put a pause on 'political activities'.

"The Star wrote that the Budget 2021 would be presented to the cabinet and can be approved without voting from all 222 MPs since Parliament will no longer be in effect in an emergency.

"The impact of an emergency will concentrate powers in the prime minister at the expense of Parliament, severely damage the economy and cause tremendous loss of confidence," he said.

The Star's "exclusive" report today had cited anonymous sources claiming that Putrajaya was seeking an emergency declaration to suspend Parliament.

The Dewan Rakyat is scheduled to convene on Nov 2, and Budget 2021 was scheduled for voting on Nov 17.

Currently, it is uncertain if Muhyiddin still controlled majority support in the Dewan Rakyat.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claimed that "many" of his party's MPs are currently backing Anwar Ibrahim for the job, while Umno's Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah appeared to be pursuing a vote of no-confidence against the prime minister.

In a statement today, Istana Negara acknowledged that the Agong was mulling over "suggestions" by Putrajaya and will confer with the council of rulers first. - Mkini