KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Annuar Musa calls for a stop to the act of politicising the government's efforts, including the proclamation of a state of emergency by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the people.
The Federal Territories Minister said the lives and safety of the people were aspects that needed to be prioritised rather than politicking to achieve personal interests.
He said while this did not mean politicking should be banned altogether, but discussions of certain political issues could be postponed to make way for more important and key matters at the moment.
"The government is well aware that the worst is yet to come, and it will come. According to the records (of Covid-19 positive cases in the country), Malaysia yesterday registered over 4,000 (cases).
"We (the government) have projected that this figure of 4,000 daily cases should only come in March. By April, it was expected to reach 5,000 cases. By May and June, it (infection) could go up to 8,000 (cases).
"These can all be calculated and projected. Hence, the government choose to make an Emergency proclamation not only (based) on the current situation, but because it considers the possibility of a greater infection rate and at that time, the existing legal apparatus of the government is not enough.
"I have mentioned several examples because many out there like to politicise whatever the government says to achieve their personal interests.
"This is, however, a matter of security and welfare of the people. We must honestly prioritise the lives and safety of the people. Politics is secondary," he said when launching a back to school programme, posted on his Facebook page today.
Elaborating on the need to declare a state of emergency, Annuar said the emergency ordinance could make it mandatory for private hospitals and doctors to join hands with the government in fighting Covid-19.
This, he said, was because, under the existing common law, the private sector is not obliged to be involved.
Besides that, he said the emergency proclamation could postpone a general election to avoid any possibility or risk of widespread Covid-19 transmission.
"Many private hospitals and private doctors need to work together to fight this pandemic. Ordinary laws cannot make it mandatory for them to partake in efforts to contain the spread. It is only under emergency law.
"Similarly, if there is a situation where the number of infections reaches 5,000 or 6,000 (cases)... the common law cannot force the use of private hospitals to accommodate the influx of patients.
"With an ordinance, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong can order that private hospitals and other places be used.
"Come May and June, a certain state is required to hold its election and that cannot be prevented. And we know what the effect is if we hold an election like what happened in Sabah. So only an emergency ordinance can postpone state elections," he said, in refering to the Sarawak state election which is due this year.
Annuar said such a move to avoid an election was similar to the move to postpone the by-elections for Batu Sapi and Gerik.
