Political scientist Chandra Muzaffar said the King should declare a state of emergency to end the “intense, unproductive and destructive” politicking which he sees as impeding efforts to combat Covid-19 and to restore the economy.
But Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar said a political ceasefire called by the King would be a better alternative.
They were commenting on MIC president SA Vigneswaran’s proposal that Parliament be prorogued to enable the government to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
Vigneswaran said on Wednesday this was a better option than snap polls during the pandemic and would also help the government revive the economy and bring about political stability.
Chandra said the focus of the nation should be on Covid-19 and the economy and the best way of ensuring this was for the King to declare an emergency under Article 150 of the Federal Constitution.
“It is being done in Spain because of the health and economic crisis,” he said.
He noted that an emergency would see the suspension of Parliament.
He suggested that the emergency be limited to six months and said the declaration should come with a specific and clear commitment to returning to democratic rule.
During this period, he said, all MPs should be mobilised in various committees to work with the government to resolve the health and economic challenges.
Chandra said certain parties were exploiting the ruling Perikatan Nasional’s thin majority for their own agendas, including “escaping the long arm of the law”.
“All because they have the numbers, they are working hand-in-hand with an individual who is obsessed with power,” he said.
Hisommudin told FMT he believed a snap election would not be appropriate given the spike in Covid-19 cases and nor would a suspension of Parliament since the national budget was due to be tabled soon.
“Our MPs need to give their input on the budget,” he said.
He said he did not see the government’s slim majority as a problem as long as it could get sufficient support in approving legislative bills, adding that it had passed this test before.
Hisommudin said fighting Covid-19 required a bipartisan effort and the only way of rising above the current power struggle was for the King to order a ceasefire.
He said he was certain that politicians from both sides of the divide would heed the royal call.
The ceasefire would give the government room to deal with the health and economic crises, he added.
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