Umno hopes human rights and rule of law upheld during emergency

 

Umno hopes that Putrajaya will uphold the principles of human rights, civil liberties, transparency and the rule of law during the emergency period.

In a statement today, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also urged the government to take all the necessary steps to restore the functions of the Federal Constitution and parliamentary democracy, once the objectives of the emergency were achieved.

Zahid expressed hope that all emergency ordinances sought by the executive will be focused solely on handling the Covid-19 pandemic, given the reasons stated by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

"The government should also give an assurance that it will take into account public interest and fulfil its promises to resolve issues such as dropping conditions for the i-Sinar withdrawal scheme, loan moratorium extension and other issues," he said.

Zahid's position will likely be a massive climbdown from the position that his faction within Umno has taken against Muhyiddin's administration.

At least two Umno MPs have in recent days declared that they no longer supported Muhyiddin as prime minister. At most, Muhyiddin currently has the support of 109 MPs.

Zahid's faction is believed to be keen on pulling out of the Perikatan Nasional Plus government in order to trigger fresh elections.

The party will decide on whether to push for fresh elections when party delegates meet on Jan 31. - Mkini