DAP ready to cooperate with Independent Special Committee on strict conditions - Guan Eng

KUALA LUMPUR:DAP is ready to work with the Independent Special Committee to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on matters related to the emergency if the opposition is given an equal opportunity in determining its direction.

Its secretary-general, Lim Guan Eng, said the cooperation could be achieved if more opposition parliamentary representatives and experts joined the committee to make it more independent.

The former Finance Minister was quoted by The Malay Mail as having also urged Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to assure that the cooperation would be carried out transparently and sincerely.

"We will accept with an open heart (if there is an invitation) but with strict condition that our participation will not be used to 'legalize' wrong or unconstitutional actions by Muhyiddin," he was quoted as saying in the report, today.

However, the Member of Parliament for Bagan reminded Muhyiddin not to take advantage of the opposition's intentions as a way to "approve" decisions that are against the Constitution.

"We are always ready to work together against COVID-19 but we do not want it to be used to control power," he added.

Earlier, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Presidential Council rejected the reason given by the Prime Minister, who wanted to implement an emergency until August 1 to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Guan Eng stressed that PH leaders have consistently rejected attempts to implement an emergency as it will focus on executive power.

He added that DAP wanted more clarification before deciding whether the party would cooperate.

“It must also get a consensus from (other) PH members.

"But for DAP, we are ready to work together, but as I said, on condition we will not be used to approve unconstitutional actions," he said.

At the same time, Guan Eng also denied allegations that opposition members who agreed to join the special emergency panel would support the Emergency Ordinance.

Earlier, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Parliament), Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan informed that his party had sent a letter to the Leader of the Opposition to list three names to be members of the committee.

However, Takiyuddin said his party has not received any reply regarding the matter.

On January 12, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah consented to declare an emergency in an effort to curb the increase in the number of COVID-19 infections.

The emergency implementation period is until August 1, 2021 or an earlier date if the daily COVID-19 positive case numbers are controlled and lowered effectively.