Hadi wants new laws to stop ‘pests’ who disrupt war on Covid-19

 

Lim Kit Siang has slammed Abdul Hadi Awang for labelling critics of the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic as ‘disruptors’.

PETALING JAYA: Abdul Hadi Awang wants new laws to be enacted and enforced against those who “disrupt” frontliners in their war against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The PAS president described these disruptors as “pests” who are only finding fault to provoke the public through social media.

“Strict laws must be enacted to protect against such disruptors during this emergency. At the same time, stern action must be taken against these troublemakers who dampen the spirit of frontliners,” he said.

Reiterating his support for the emergency proclamation by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in January, he said it is necessary to stop the spread of the disease.

He was responding to criticisms by various quarters, including the opposition, who described the emergency as a tactic just to suspend Parliament, when most economic sectors are allowed to carry on as usual.

According to critics, the fact that Malaysia is facing another wave of Covid-19 cases proves that the implementation of the emergency has strayed from the government’s goal of fighting the pandemic.

Meanwhile, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said he found Hadi’s statement completely unacceptable.

“Why does he have to champion a failed emergency and even go as far as to label critics of the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic as ‘disruptors’,” the Iskandar Putri MP said.

He added that these critics only want a more efficient, competent and sensitive handling of the pandemic in order for it to end as soon as possible.

“The defenders of this failed emergency can continue to do so, but do not falsely cast the critics of the emergency in a devilish light. This is in fact fake news. Will Hadi be prosecuted under the fake news emergency ordinance?” he asked.

Lim urged Hadi to come to his senses and join the critics of the emergency to call for an immediate end to the emergency and also for Parliament as well as various state legislative assemblies to reconvene in order to spearhead the fight against the pandemic. - FMT