Kadir: Bringing up emergency makes PM look desperate

 

In raising the matter of an emergency again yesterday, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin looked desperate, said former Bersatu leader A Kadir Jasin.

The veteran newsman also brushed off concerns over the impact that the Batu Sapi by-election and Sarawak state election might have on the Covid-19 pandemic.

"It is not wise and in fact, it shows how desperate Muhyiddin is when he brought up the emergency.

"Enough! The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has rejected it. Plus, if we look at social media, the majority does not agree with an emergency being declared," Kadir said in a Facebook post this morning.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin cited concerns that elections in Batu Sapi, Sabah and Sarawak could worsen the spread of Covid-19.

He said the Federal Constitution does not allow for elections to be postponed unless an emergency is declared in those two areas.

Article 150 of the Constitution allows for emergencies to be declared in localised areas as mentioned in Muhyiddin's speech, and not just a nationwide emergency.

The prime minister's remarks came a week after the King turned down the government's request for a national emergency.

On the concern that elections would help spread Covid-19, Kadir said while the Batu Sapi by-election can't be avoided, the risk is lower than the Sabah state election which was held in September.

Nominations for the Batu Sapi by-election will be on Nov 23, with polling day on Dec 5. The seat was vacated after its incumbent, Warisan's Liew Vui Keong, died.

BN and others have pledged not to contest the by-election, citing the pandemic.

As for Sarawak, Kadir said there was no rush to dissolve the state legislature.

This is because the deadline for the state election is on Aug 7 next year, by which time, Covid-19 could be under control.

"There is no need to hold the Sarawak elections immediately unless the state government has particular reasons to hasten it," he added.

The Sarawak state assembly will automatically dissolve on June 7, after which an election must be called in 60 days.

However, the GPS state government has been gearing up to hold an election soon and said it would not be hindered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kadir said the government's focus right now should be on crafting and passing Budget 2021.

He also urged the Perikatan Nasional government to be brave enough to face a vote of no-confidence in the house.

If a vote of no-confidence succeeds and no one else can prove a majority, a snap general election is a likely outcome. - Mkini

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