Emergency: Govt must focus on dealing with COVID-19, assist people - UMNO

KUALA LUMPUR: UMNO welcomes the proclamation of emergency by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Its president, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said that considering the rationale put forward by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in requesting for the emergency proclamation, all powers under the Emergency Ordinance should focus on efforts to contain the pandemic.

“During the emergency, UMNO hopes that the principles of human rights, civil liberties, transparency and the rule of law will be preserved,” he said in a statement today.

He said the government should take into account the interests of the people and resolve the issues relating to their survival, especially regarding the unconditional withdrawal of the Employees Provident Fund under i-Sinar and extension of the moratorium.

“Efforts should be made to immediately restore the functions of the Constitution and the practice of parliamentary democracy as soon as the declared emergency achieves its goals,” he said.

The King today proclaimed an emergency that will be enforced until Aug 1 as a proactive measure to contain the pandemic in Malaysia.

Comptroller of the Royal Household for Istana Negara, Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, said in a statement that His Majesty decreed that the emergency be enforced up to Aug 1 or earlier if the number of positive COVID-19 cases could be effectively controlled and reduced.

-- BERNAMA