Semburead behind the idea and manoeuvre of Emergency?

Strong rumours circulating that Minister of MITI Azmin Mohamed Ali, who is now a partyless wanderer after last December backstabbing his own party and Presiden Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is the man with the idea and manoeuvres of Emergency.

FMT:

Azmin slams ‘power-crazy’ Anwar, calls for political unity

FMT Reporters – October 24, 2020 9:53 PM

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Azmin Ali, formerly PKR deputy president, is now a senior minister in the Perikatan Nasional government.

PETALING JAYA: Senior minister Azmin Ali has called for political leaders to come together to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, while making a slashing attack on opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, describing him as a power-crazy liar.

He said Anwar’s recent moves to unseat the Muhyiddin Yassin government was “clearly the work of a power-crazy individual driven by selfish and egotistical motives with a pathological sense of entitlement as if the post of prime minister is his birthright”.

Last month, Anwar declared he had the majority support of MPs in the Dewan Rakyat enabling him to form a new government. He had an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong earlier this month to press his case.

Azmin, an Anwar confidante and former PKR deputy president, fell out with Anwar and left to team up with Muhyiddin and PPBM earlier this year.

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He said: “In his relentless quest to become prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim has resorted to outright lies as well as subterfuge not only against the nation but even against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah).”

He said Anwar’s outburst yesterday – about the country’s possible descent into dictatorship (through a state of emergency) – was “an act of utter recklessness”.

Azmin said political leaders, regardless of their affiliation, must put aside differences and join forces with the people and government to fight the pandemic.

He criticised opposition members for sowing fear and resentment among the rakyat against the government’s “earnest efforts at securing public health and safety while ensuring economic recovery”.null

“Under these circumstances, it is only right and proper that we stand united behind all efforts at mitigating the pandemic and flattening the curve while ensuring minimal disruption to the economy,” he said.

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The Minister is said to put the idea ahead that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin would be facing a tough time with the next Parliamentary sitting just a week away.

This is after Opposition Leader Anwar was given audience to be presented to His Majesty SPB YDP Agong XVI on 13 Oct 2020.

This is also after UMNO officially announced they deep dissatisfaction on the treatment and allocation in the Federal and State Governments, after the party provided the largest component for PPBM President Muhyiddin to be Prime Minister VIII and other leaders to be Chief Ministers, despite their own party’s lesser presence against UMNO.

What Minister Azmin is calling “political leaders, regardless of their affiliation, must put aside differences and join forces with the people and government to fight the pandemic” is actually Prime Minister VII Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s ‘Unity Government’, called the day after the latter summarily resigned on 24 Feb 2020,

The void created by the resignation of Prime Minister VII Dr Mahathir provided the Opposition parties to gang up and despite being the largest block, UMNO agreed to back PPBM President Muhyiddin as Prime Minister VIII.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin was sworn in on 29 Feb 2020.

He formed a Cabinet within the next week, including Azmin and his partyless wandering lot of 10.

As the Covid-19 pandemic situation worsens, after consultation with the National Security Council, Prime Minister Muhyiddin announced Movement Control Order (MCO) beginning 18 Mar 2020.

The stats of Covid-19 positive infection on the day that Cabinet decided to propose for Emergency to His Majesty SPN YDP Agong XVI

A Special Cabinet meeting was held in the morning on 23 Oct 2020 and it is believed that the decision is proposed to His Majesty SPB YDP Agong XVI to invoke the provisions of Article 150(1) of the Federal Constitution is declared.

Then they, plus the Chief of Defence Forces, Attorney General, Inspector General of Police and DG of Health hurriedly left for Kuantan to sought an audience with His Majesty SPB YDP Agong XVI.

It is believed that the crux of the declaration of Emergency this round is all political.

Then again, Former Lord Chief Justice Tun Zaki Tun Azmi opined that the Crown could have taken a different approach to circumspec the issue instead of taking the advice of the Prime Minister.

The Vibes:

Agong can give counter advice against emergency – Tun Zaki Azmi

Although the federal constitution may allow for a declaration of emergency, it can be challenged if it is a means to a power grab 

Updated 6 hours ago · Published on 25 Oct 2020 10:00AM · 0 CommentsFacebookTwitterEmailWhatsAppWeChatPrint

The proclamation of an emergency can be challenged, although under the federal constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is bound to follow the advice of his prime minister and the cabinet. – Pic courtesy of Istana Negara 

UNDERSTANDABLY the proposal for the declaration of an emergency brings a lot of worry to the citizens of the country.

I don’t blame the people as internationally it is only done by someone who intends to gain power, and thereafter rule dictatorially.

Malaysia, on the other hand, has seen six emergencies declared during the confrontation with Indonesia, in Kelantan, Sabah, Sarawak and the worst was to curb riots caused during the May 13, 1969 incident.

But all these emergencies went in for a very limited period. The longest was the May 13 emergency that ended in 1971.

But for those who have lived as long as I have, we, the country came out stronger after the emergency was lifted. I’ve been reading in the media that there is a lot of speculations as to:

A. whether there will indeed be an emergency;

B. what type of emergency.

When I say what type I mean to what extent the people in the government are going to use those powers.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Friday was met by the prime minister, who proposed instituting an emergency to curb the Covid-19 pandemic. The Agong has now decided to consult his brother rulers.

Under the federal constitution, the Agong is bound to follow the advice of His Majesty’s government, i.e the sitting prime minister and his cabinet; but it does not stop him from giving counter advice to the prime minister and the cabinet.

And I believe this is what His Majesty wants to do. He wants to consult his brother rulers and maybe summon the prime minister to express the consensus views of the rulers. This is also perhaps to ask the prime minister to reconsider his advice to the Agong.

In my opinion, if the prime minister still stands firm in his views, then the Agong is bound to follow his advice. 

Now, this does not mean that the decision to proclaim an emergency cannot be challenged. 

What can be challenged is the advice of the prime minister to the Agong. This was decided by a privy council case in 1979, in the case of Teh Cheng Poh v Public Prosecutor.

Let me say something as a businessman before being a judge.

Since the last few months, investors have been selling their shares and running out of Malaysia. Some say more will flee immediately after the emergency is proclaimed.

But people are running away from the country because of the political instability.

Businessmen and investors don’t like it when they are not sure what is going to happen tomorrow. Because every time a government changes, policies change. 

They are happy when the government is stable because they know policies will remain for a certain period of time.

Look at the last government. Nothing happened within the 22 months they were ruling the country. Businessmen were not sure what was going on.

So, even if an emergency is proclaimed but the government when invoking the powers under the emergency do not abuse the power given, but use the power to rehabilitate the political situation and make it stable again, that would be good to the economy and to the country.

Of course, the opposition will say it is bad. Lawyers will also say it is bad. Some will refer to other countries where the prime minister becomes a dictator and holds on to the power of the emergency but in Malaysia, history has shown this has not happened.

We also do not know why the prime minister is seeking for the Agong to make the proclamation of emergency. Some speculate that it is to prevent a vote of no confidence. If that is the reason, then it is wrong.

On the other hand, if the proclamation is done to not allow an election now, which will result in the uncontrollable spread of Covid-19 as we have seen in Sabah, then in my opinion, it is valid.

Because if the country suffers from the pandemic, the result will be a threat to the economy and the lives of the people. In my opinion such declarations can be upheld by the courts.

Because when we declared the emergency for public order in 1969, the federal court held that even drug trafficking can result in a public disorder and held that detention under the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crimes) Ordinance enacted pursuant to the 1969 declaration is valid, and upheld the detention.

If, however, it can be proven that the government is seeking the declaration of emergency only to prevent or protect its position then it is a mala fide act and can be declared ultra vires the constitution.

The risk of the Budget 2021 not being passed in case it is defeated and the prime minister loses the vote on the Budget and the vote of confidence that are not good grounds for declaring an emergency.

We must not also forget that an election in Sarawak is due in the next few months and we cannot deny that if it proceeds, campaigning will start soon. Campaigning means the risk of spreading the virus as we have seen in Sabah.

No doubt many people will say we will have tighter SOPs (standard operating procedures) but in theory I don’t think it could happen.

They could not do it in South Korea but there, two-thirds of voting had been done by post.

Meanwhile in New Zealand, the election was postponed until the country was clear of the virus. But when the election resumed, Covid-19 cases started to increase again.

The damage we saw here as a result of the election in Sabah was scary enough, and as a citizen I don’t want to face Covid-19.

As far as the general public is concerned, I think the large majority of the population want to get on with their daily lives and they are tired of the squabbling among politicians.

Alhamdulillah, my family and I are able to stay at home as we are fortunate enough to have sufficient funds for our daily needs. What about those who are suffering? Those who are not earning?

Here is one proposal: can all members of Parliament agree to pass a legislation so the federal election and state election can be postponed for, say, one or two years?

In the meantime, we fight Covid-19. And once Covid-19 is eradicated or we find a vaccine, we can revert to our usual practice and anyone can bring a vote of no confidence for an election to be held.

But if the pandemic spreads, then the (emergency) law allows the prime minister to postpone the election.

To me, let us wait for the Council of Rulers to make its decision and the prime minister to make his announcement. – The Vibes, October 25, 2020

Tun Zaki Azmi served as the sixth Chief Justice of Malaysia from 2008 to 2011.

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There are arguments against Minister Azmin’s ‘Unity Government’.

The Vibes:

Unity govt talk a ploy to manipulate royals?

Growing pressure on Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who faces possibility of no-confidence motion in coming weeks

Updated 2 minutes ago · Published on 25 Oct 2020 2:04PM · 0 CommentsFacebookTwitterEmailWhatsAppWeChatPrint

The Agong and Malay rulers are scheduled to meet in a few minutes to decide on the government’s call for emergency rule. – Wikipedia pic, October 25, 2020

BY

Amar Shah Mohsen 

KUALA LUMPUR – Politicians influencing royals are nothing new, and in the midst of an unprecedented political and health crisis, those with vested interests have once again surfaced – this time, to push for a unity government.

All eyes are on Istana Negara, where the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Malay rulers are scheduled to meet in a few minutes to decide on the government’s call for emergency rule.

This comes amid growing pressure on Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, with Budget 2021 on the line and the possibility of a motion of no confidence against him being tabled at the Parliament sitting that begins on November 2.

Talk of a unity government being formed has been bandied, both on and offline, and sources said this will be among the points of discussion at today’s meeting.

Unsurprisingly, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is said to be among those backing the move.

Working closely with his trusted lieutenant, Tun Daim Zainuddin, the pair are believed to have engineered the idea, and is using Kelantan prince Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s royal links to get the palace on board.

This appears to explain speculation on a recent meeting between Tengku Razaleigh and Dr Mahathir.

The Gua Musang lawmaker, despite not being a political party head, was also the only other MP to have met the Agong following an audience granted to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on October 13, with the palace subsequently postponing all other scheduled meetings with party leaders.

If a unity government does indeed materialise, Dr Mahathir could once again be part of the ruling coalition, and subject to agreement with allies, be given certain positions.

However, the big question is whether such a government is actually feasible.

While not exactly a unity government by name, the cooperation between Dr Mahathir and Anwar under the Pakatan Harapan banner ahead of the 14th general election is similar to the current proposal.

The duo are known to not see eye to eye, but they put aside their political differences for the common goal of toppling the Datuk Seri Najib Razak-led Barisan Nasional government.

From then on, it was downhill for Dr Mahathir and Anwar – and PH, for that matter.


The promised transition of power to the PKR president after two years did not happen, and the infighting among PH components eventually led to the coalition’s fall.

The learned rulers will of course take this into consideration before arriving at any decision.

Malaysians do not want yet another government to collapse, dragging the country deeper into the doldrums, especially when the Covid-19 threat persists.

Manipulating the royal institution for selfish ends is the last thing politicians should do. – The Vibes, October 25, 2020

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Prime Minister Muhyiddin’s political position on ‘borrowed support’ had been weak and flimsy from day one. His own party PPBM was never strong and their wield of power is based on the ‘political goodwill’ extended by UMNO MPs.

Yet Minister Azmin, whom himself a party less wanderer without a sound political base, is riding on the Prime Minister Muhyiddin’s ‘borrowed support’ of flimsy and brittle power.

Polls of 51,000 respondent on 24 Oct 2020

Minister Azmin is defending an indefensible position of the Prime Minister Muhyiddin, which the Declaration of Emergency is clearly a PPBM agenda without UMNO.

It is no brainer that this is probably the last option for them to remain legitimately in power, by manipulating the Federal Constitution and getting the Crown involved their scheme.

Published in: on October 25, 2020 at 13:30  Leave a Comment  

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