Anwar slams Dr M over Mageran proposal

 

Anwar Ibrahim says the Mageran proposed by Dr Mahathir Mohamad would give rise to authoritarian and dictatorial powers.

PETALING JAYA: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has hit out at former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad over his proposal for a Majlis Gerakan Negara (Mageran) to be set up to temporarily govern the country.

In a video posted on Facebook, Anwar said there was no rationale for Mageran to be established at the expense of democracy or parliamentary proceedings, adding that it would give rise to authoritarian and dictatorial powers.

“Don’t sacrifice the people just because we want a shortcut to power through the use of the Emergency or Mageran,” he said.

The PKR president said continuing with the Emergency would cause the economy to suffer even more, and result in the confidence among foreign investors and local players to decline even further.

He said Malaysia needed a stable system of government with clear direction and the guarantee of civil freedoms to be established in order to boost investor confidence.

“Maintaining the Emergency and enacting laws without any (parliamentary) debates and with just two or three individuals deciding the fate of 32 million people will not help revitalise our economy,” he added.

Commenting on the opposition party leaders who were granted an audience with the King recently, Anwar said the details of their discussions cannot be revealed, but their stand on certain matters can be publicly stated.

“Some people are taking advantage of this situation though. When asked if they agree with the Emergency, they say no. But they then call for a Mageran under the framework of an Emergency,” he said, taking a jibe at Mahathir.

“Why did we ask for Parliament (to sit)? Because we are a parliamentary democracy. Why did we have an audience with the King? Because our system is a constitutional monarchy.”

He also said that it was clear that Pakatan Harapan leaders were on the same page with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi based on their discussions with the King.

“End the Emergency, reconvene Parliament immediately, and set a clear policy to alleviate the people’s burdens in facing this pandemic,” he said. - FMT