He said the Cabinet’s move for emergency powers, if true, would be in anticipation that Muhyiddin would not be able to have the 2021 Budget passed by the Dewan Rakyat for lack of majority support.

“People don’t have food. Businesses are collapsing. If emergency is declared vulnerable communities will likely starve to death. Business confidence will drop,” he said in a statement today.

He urged the opposition, civil society and the public to push back strongly if the government goes through with this decision.

“At a time of a health pandemic, more transparency and accountability is required and open discussion, not an emergency. This is an attempt to save one man’s job.”

Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh said there are other options available to deal with Covid-19, such as more targeted movement control orders in areas most affected and increased testing which can flatten the curve in the near future.

A state of emergency “may be too drastic a step” which might further erode the economy, he said.

Speculation about a possible partial declaration of a state of emergency arose when Muhyiddin sought an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in Kuantan today.

Parliament’s year-end meeting will start on Nov 2, with the 2021 Budget due to be tabled on Nov 6. Failure to have the Budget passed by the Dewan Rakyat would result in the fall of the government.