'Madani autocracy': Look in the mirror, PKR MP tells Muhyiddin

 

Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim has reminded Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin of how the latter in August 2021 as then-prime minister suspended Parliament despite objections from opposition MPs.

Hassan said he has no intention to defend Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration, but Muhyiddin should reflect on his actions before accusing the present government of practising autocracy.

“Allow me to state a fact that happened during the time of PN rule under Muhyiddin,” Hassan (above) said in a statement.

“One day I departed after dawn prayer from Johor to attend a parliamentary sitting. As I arrived at Bulatan Jalan Parlimen, riot police armed with rifles and shields prevented me from entering Parliament.

“Later, I found out that all MPs were blocked from entry, including (then) Port Dickson MP Anwar and Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was the Langkawi MP,” he recalled.

Hassan said they were all informed that Parliament had been suspended and Muhyiddin had declared a nationwide emergency.

At the time, Muhyiddin’s move, announced due to a “Covid-19 risk” with 11 detected cases, came four days after Parliament was reconvened following an initial emergency declaration made in January 2021.

Anwar as then opposition leader accused the government of using Covid-19 as a ruse to obstruct Parliament proceedings.

‘Look at past records’

“For me, Muhyiddin’s action as prime minister at the time was undemocratic and infringed on the freedom of Parliament,” Hassan, who is also a lawyer, said today.

As an act of protest, Hassan responded by filing a judicial review to declare the PN government’s move invalid, and the case is now in its final appeal stage at the federal court.

“So, when Muhyiddin accuse the Madani government of suppressing freedoms and being undemocratic, I believe it would be best for him to look at his past records,” said the PKR veteran.

Muhyiddin in his speech at the PN convention in Kuala Lumpur today accused the Pakatan Harapan-led administration of practising autocracy, despite promises to uphold democratic principles. - Mkini