MALAYSIA — Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is calling on all Malaysian Members of Parliament (MPs) to send an appeal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to revoke the state of emergency and convene Parliament immediately to discuss urgent matters. 

Mr Anwar said in a statement he has already sent out a memo to all lawmakers to urge the king to revoke the emergency order, and call for the Parliament to convene as soon as possible.

“In the letter I have suggested to all MPs to submit an appeal immediately (to Agong),” he said in a statement on Thursday (Jan 14).

He also urged all MPs to submit the appeal as soon as possible, preferably before Friday. 

“I have prepared a draft letter to be presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which can be amended and adjusted at the discretion of the MPs or the party,” he said in his memo to the lawmakers.

On Monday, prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced a second movement-control order (MCO) for six states from Jan 13 to 26, and also declared an emergency on Tuesday up to August 1. 

Mr Anwar hoped the letters would be kindly and wisely considered by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, in withdrawing the declaration of emergency, and then order Parliament to be held before Jan 31.

This, he said, was crucial to discuss the issue of emergency, Covid-19 and the economic crisis that has hit the country.

Mr Anwar said the emergency by Mr Muhyiddin was invalid with the decline in the number of MPs supporting the Perikatan Nasional government.

However, he said the MPs do not dispute the reasonable steps taken to deal with the Covid-19 epidemic.

Mr Anwar said existing provisions were sufficient to curb the spread of the pandemic, including the measures of the MCO and the conditional MCO.

“The proposal to form a joint committee has been put forward by many MPs since March 2020. He (Muhyiddin) does not need an emergency.

“The economic crisis is also particularly troubling while unemployment, poverty and disparities are increasing.”

He added that an emergency will definitely cause the economic situation to worsen.

“We think the prime minister and the government have been misguided in conveying advice to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong because it is not really related to Covid-19 problems, floods or the economy.

“The prime minister is more focused on clinging on to power.

“Therefore, I hope the MPs can deliver a memo to the king requesting the courtesy and wisdom to withdraw the emergency proclamation.” THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT