The Malaysian Insight

THERE are no studies to suggest that declaring an emergency would help combat the Covid-19 pandemic, PKR lawmaker Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said today.

The Kulim Bandar Baru MP, speaking at the special parliamentary sitting this morning, said the government has given the wrong ‘medical prescription’ to the public in its effort to curb the virus.

“A year ago today, there were 8,043 overall cases, 39 daily cases, and 124 deaths. Today we have had more than 1 million cases, 170,000 active cases, 16,000 daily cases and more than 8,000 deaths.

“On January 12 this year, we imposed the emergency, saying it was solely to fight the virus but it is evident today that the proclamation is not the solution,” he said.

Saifuddin noted that throughout the emergency, 65,000 publications related to Covid-19 were released.

“In Malaysia, 750 studies were made but globally and locally, we cannot find one study that can link the emergency and combating Covid-19. No study has suggested the need to impose such ordinance.

“We have given the public the wrong medicine,” he said.

On Monday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Parliament) Takiyuddin Hassan told the Dewan Rakyat that the government had decided to revoke six ordinances related to the emergency on July 21 but stopped short of telling the House if the king had been notified.

He had also said that the emergency would not be continued when it expires on August 1.

Takiyuddin said he would elaborate next Monday, although opposition MPs demanded an immediate answer from the PAS lawmaker.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had said in January that under the emergency, the government will be able to enact new laws to help it fight the pandemic.

He denied the accusation that declaring an emergency was an attempt to cling on to power after losing majority support in the House. – July 28, 2021.