Calling any such move as “absurd, ill-conceived and insincere”, Patriot president Mohamed Arshad Raji said the government seems to have lost the plot in how to handle the pandemic.
“Merely to attempt to contain the spread of Covid-19 by imposing emergency rule and justifying it by saying the people are against having elections, is simply moronic.
“Certainly, there are much better ways to combat the current spike in cases, like specific locality lockdown or partial lockdown,” he said in a statement today.
“Furthermore, what good can the National Security Council (MKN) led by the prime minister himself offer in an emergency rule when the actual problem lies in the motive and sincerity of the government leadership in calling for an emergency rule?”
He said that the trust deficit in the government has also increased following this recent speculation.
“When news broke out on the proposal by the Cabinet to place the nation under emergency, it caused an unprecedented public outcry.
“There were incessant calls by citizens of all levels of society to denounce the proposal, as the word emergency conjures a sense of uncertainty, fear and insecurity that is likely to affect the daily lives of citizens,” Arshad said.
He also cited the comprehensive views of lawyers and NGOs who have spoken out against the need to invoke the emergency rule, saying that Patriot stands with them.
Arshad said there is no doubt that should an emergency be declared, the country’s already struggling economy will “go into a tailspin and spiral into a crash.”
“Business and economic indicators will be flashing red, with more bankruptcies, unemployment, retrenchment, foreclosure, loans default, higher private debt, stock market crash, and the subsequent downgrading of our economy by rating agencies.
“There will also be worsening social ills, like more thefts and burglaries, while families will have to face increased financial and emotional constraints,” he said, adding that families relying on handouts will be the hardest hit.
Arshad called for the government to work hard on its trust deficit and reach out with a sincere hand to help fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Combatting the scourge of this pandemic requires total involvement and support from all parties, creeds and colours.
“We have capable and intelligent people from outside the ruling circle,” he said, adding that most Malaysians are law abiding and will conform to the regulations imposed on them if the government takes the right measures towards stopping the spread of Covid-19.
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