Stop political maneuvering, wait till COVID-19 pandemic eases - Geo-strategist

Prof Dr Azmi Hassan said this follows the reminder from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and the Malay Rulers for politicians to stop all politicking that will affect the stability of the country’s administration.

He said the King’s advice is based on the severity of the current COVID-19 pandemic in the country, and that the government has to be given enough room to tackle it.

“When the situation eases, you can politick if you have the majority. Just be patient, if the citizens can be patient and sacrifice, I don’t see why politicians can’t do the same,” he said in an exclusive Buletin Bernama interview that aired on Bernama TV last night.

Azmi said His Majesty’s decision that there was no need for an emergency to be declared in the country was in accordance with existing laws, namely the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342), which is adequate to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If the advice is not heeded, we will see the consequences in the 15th General Election. So, to all politicians, be careful because the public is watching.

“The people are sick and tired with all the political maneuvering because politicians come across as only concerned with their political agenda and not the citizens’ wellbeing,” he said.

Agreeing with Azmi, International Islamic University Malaysia Kulliyyah of Laws faculty lecturer Associate Prof Dr Khairil Azmin Mokhtar said Malaysia did not need an emergency as the existing act was more than adequate.

“What we should do is increase the cooperation between agencies, as well as relations between the federal and state governments. We can see that state governments do have a degree of autonomy, as does the federal government.

“At the same time, the state governments should be given room and the freedom to make decisions in some matters (pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic),” he said.

The Agong decreed today that there was no need to declare an emergency in the country.

Al-Sultan Abdullah decreed that the matter was decided after carefully considering the request put forth by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and discussions with the Malay rulers, besides looking at the current situation in the country.