Dr M: Govt has full power to curb Covid-19, no need emergency

 

An emergency declaration is unnecessary as the government has the full power to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

Unlike Western countries, he said, people in this country adhere to the standard operating procedures as outlined by the government.

The Pejuang pro-tem chairperson also raised certain questions in relation to the emergency and the real meaning of it.

"We don't know how far the emergency will limit our movement at this time.

"Without an emergency, the government has enough power to curb Covid-19.

"It has full power. So far, we don't know what's the (real) meaning of this emergency," he told the media in Putrajaya.

This morning, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah consented to a Declaration of Emergency Proclamation based on Clause (1) Article 150 of the Federal Constitution.

This period of emergency will take effect until Aug 1 or an earlier date if the Covid-19 situation, which regularly recorded four-figure new cases daily, subsides.

The emergency declaration comes after Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin presented the cabinet's decision on the proposed emergency to the King yesterday.

Muhyiddin earlier announced tougher measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The emergency declaration has been met with flak from politicians. Critics labelled the move as Muhyiddin's attempt to hold on to power and prevent the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government from collapsing, should more MPs withdraw their support for the PN.

Muhyiddin promised that once a bipartisan committee determines that the Covid-19 pandemic has subsided, the general election will be held.

Meanwhile, Mahathir also asked what the government could do following the declaration of the emergency.

"The emergency was declared under the pretext of the surge of Covid-19, but what can the government do and cannot do during the emergency?

"My view is that we can do everything to curb this pandemic (without the emergency)," he said.

Not contesting GE15

On a separate matter, Utusan Malaysia reported that Mahathir will not contest in the 15th general election due to his age.

Mahathir will be 96 years old on July 10.

"Contest again? I am already 95 years old, I can't even walk properly. Do you want me to contest again? It's enough," he said.

This is not the first time the Langkawi MP announced his refusal to contest in GE15.

In September last year, Mahathir said he would not be contesting in GE15 but changed his mind two weeks later as his supporters had expressed hope for him to contest again.

Last month, his son Mukhriz Mahathir, who is also the Pejuang pro-tem president, stressed that it's time for the party to have new figures to contest in the next election.

However, Mukhriz said, his father was still needed to draft a strategy against political foes. - Mkini