Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi has questioned Marzuki Mohammad, the principal private secretary to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, on a video clip attacking those calling for the implementation of the National Operations Council (NOC), which was used in the aftermath of the May 13 racial riots in 1969.
"Why has this live video by Marzuki talking about Mageran (the Malay language acronym for Majlis Gerakan Negara) appeared?
"Is he speaking in an individual capacity or representing the prime minister?
"Marzuki is slamming those who want the NOC to be implemented, but why has the issue suddenly arisen? Is this to divert from other issues?" Puad (above) asked in a Facebook posting.
In a nine-minute video aired yesterday, Marzuki made the case against the formation of a NOC - similar to the one that ruled the country from 1969 to 1971 after the May 13 riots.
"There are those who have proposed to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to form the NOC, which will have absolute power to govern the country as it did during the emergency in 1969.
"The situation we are facing today is vastly different from 1969... We are not facing a security emergency but a health emergency," Marzuki said.
He also reiterated that the various ministries were still needed and added that a more vibrant political and democratic process was possible.
Marzuki's outburst came a day after the Agong conducted meetings with top political leaders in the country.
With the exception of Muhyiddin, who already has a scheduled meeting with the ruler every Wednesday before the cabinet meeting, the other meetings were with opposition leaders such as PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.
They all met the ruler separately, for about an hour each.
Puad questioned Marzuki's motives in bringing up the NOC issue.
"The people want the current emergency to end, not continue. According to Marzuki, an emergency is better than the NOC because this is only a health-related emergency.
"If there is a health emergency, why suspend Parliament? Even after five months, the Covid-19 figures continued to rise to new highs.
"Clearly, today's emergency failed," Puad said.
He questioned why Marzuki was touting that the current emergency allowed the cabinet, National Security Council and other meetings to be held - but yet Parliament was suspended.
"Why suspend Parliament, and at the same time the government can hold meetings with the result that there is no 'check and balance'?" Puad asked. - Mkini
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