Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi, responding to a legal threat from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), asked if he would be sued for simply asking questions.
Puad yesterday questioned if the government's order to shorten the quarantine period for ministers from 10 to three days was due to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's refusal to be isolated for the full length of time after his recent trip to Indonesia.
The PMO denied the claim, accused Puad of trying to tarnish Muhyiddin's image, and warned that it might take legal action if he didn't apologise.
However, Puad did not offer any apology.
"Don't use the emergency to stop the people from questioning or asking for explanations.
"Does asking warrant a suit?" he said in a Facebook post.
Puad zoomed in on Health Minister Adham Baba's order to shorten the quarantine period for ministers.
"Is that the purpose of the emergency? To serve the needs and comfort of ministers?" he asked.
The country was placed under a state of emergency since Jan 11, which also saw the suspension of Parliament.
For the record, the order issued by Adham was not under emergency powers.
It came under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease (Exemption) Order 2021, which derives its authority from the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease Act 1988 (Act 342).
Laws created under emergency powers would be in the form of ordinances.
Muhyiddin argued that the emergency was necessary to help control the Covid-19 pandemic, but critics accused him of trying to cling on to power after losing his majority in the Dewan Rakyat.
Muhyiddin promised to hold elections when the pandemic is resolved. The emergency expires on Aug 1. - Mkini
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