Emergency proclamation is not for Muhyiddin to reign until the end of time - Tun M's former political secretary

KUALA LUMPUR: The proclamation of an emergency by the government is not because the Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin wants to fulfil his own needs or desires, said Senator Muhammad Zahid Md Arip.

On the other hand, the former political secretary to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad added that the proclamation approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong will also end when the time comes.

Thus, Muhammad Zahid said any individual who is jealous of the Prime Minister's efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic is described as 'blind and deaf'.

"The proclamation of emergency is not for Tan Sri (Muhyiddin Yassin) to reign in the eyes, to reign in the heart - this proclamation has a period, and it will not last until the end of time.

"The Yang di-Pertuan Agong made the decision after receiving advice from the government, and agreed that this emergency proclamation is to be implemented for the good of the people and the country," he said in a statement, on Sunday.

He said this in response to Dr Mahathir's statement, saying that Muhyiddin had not yet shown his ability to deal with the country's problems even after the declaration of emergency.

According to the Langkawi Member of Parliament, the proclamation of the declared emergency gives great power to the Prime Minister, apart from stopping politicking.

Commenting further, Muhammad Zahid said during the administration period, the Prime Minister has succeeded in showing his ability to lead the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"As the global economy collapses, assistance to people from various groups was not ignored.

"He puts the interests of the people and the country as his priority when his political enemies are so passionate about toppling the government he leads," he added.

Meanwhile, Terengganu Parti Pribumi Bersatu (Bersatu) Information Chief Badrolhisham Mohamed @ Shafie said the people were aware that the declaration of an emergency by the government was the result of the stubbornness of the opposition political leaders who did not comply with the order of Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to stop "politiking".

“The country's political instability triggered by political party leaders from the opposition party and some party leaders from Barisan Nasional (BN) has continuously prevented the Prime Minister from focusing fully on the COVID-19 solution.

"The efforts of Tun (Dr Mahathir) and his friends who do not support the 2021 Budget, have been seen by the people as an attempt to block the government's efforts to overcome the problem of COVID-19 and the country's economy," he explained in a statement.

In this regard, he said it would be better if all party leaders together focused on saving the lives of the people and restoring the country's economy.

"Put aside all egos, as if no one is better than "ourselves"," he said.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah on Tuesday approved Putrajaya's application to declare a state of emergency until August 1, 2021.

The declaration caused all Parliamentary and DUN sittings to be suspended until August.