Emergency: Don't be quick to pass judgement - Annuar

KUALA LUMPUR:All parties are advised not to speculate on any eventuality of a declaration of emergency in the country.

This is because, said the Minister of Federal Territories Tan Sri Annuar Musa, the matter has not yet been decided or gazetted by the government.

He said this when asked to comment on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's statement yesterday which expressed concern regarding the report on the matter.

"He (Anwar) should not be quick to pass judgement before anything happens. In this case, he (Anwar) himself predicts and he is the one who is passing judgement. This, to me, is unfair and unethical.

"Whereas the government has not yet made any decision because everything will follow the legal path," he said when met by the media at the MyGrocer Wilayah Prihatin Initiative program here today.

Anwar yesterday urged Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to reconsider the decision to declare an emergency because he said it was "a short-sighted and self-serving decision."

The Opposition Leader also expressed concern by claiming that the government was trying to take steps to block the Parliamentary process.

He said the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government which was struggling with the issue of legitimacy and failed to show a majority in Parliament is using the COVID-19 crisis as an excuse to abuse power.

In the meantime, Annuar said any decision taken by the government will take into account the interests of all parties, especially the safety and lives of the people.

"I am not saying the government will declare an emergency.

"Although I am a member of the Cabinet, involved in a lot of discussions, as long as it is not announced and decided, it is immature for us to pass judgement," he added.