FORMER chief justice Arifin Zakaria has been appointed to head a 19-member independent committee to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on when the proclamation of emergency should end, said the Prime Minister’s office in a statement today.

The statement said the others on the committee are former chief secretary to the government Samsudin Osman, former inspector-general of police Norian Mai, former armed forces chief Zulkifli Zainal Abidin, former health director-general Dr Mohamad Taha Arif, eminent cardiologist Dr Yahya Awang, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia president Ter Leong Yap,  Universiti Cyberjaya pro-chancellor R. Palan, former prosecutor Sallehuddin Saidin, Perlis Mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, public health expert Dr Andrew Kiyu Dawi Usop and former Sabah government secretary Sukarti Wakiman.

Politicians from the government who will also make up the committee are Tanjung Karang MP Noh Omar (Umno), Batang Lupar MP Rohani Abdul Karim (GPS), Beaufort MP Azizah Mohd Dun (PPBM) and Pasir Puteh MP Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PAS).

Opposition MPs on the committee comprise Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PKR), Seremban MP Loke Siew Fook (DAP) and Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad (Amanah).

However, the brief statement did not provide terms of reference for the committee.

The Emergency Ordinance came into force on January 11 and is in effect until August 1.

In elaborating on the declaration by the Agong last month, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said a bipartisan committee would be formed to advise the king on when it should be lifted.

He also assured the public that the emergency was declared to fight against the raging Covid-19 pandemic in the country and pledged to hold a general election as soon as it was viable. – February 9, 2021.