UMNO grassroots members are sceptical about the purpose of declaring an emergency to address the Covid-19 pandemic, saying that it could be used to maintain Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s hold on power.

Those interviewed said they would support such a move if it can genuinely address the pandemic, where Malaysia’s numbers are increasing exponentially and have breached the 25,000 mark.

However, it would be wrong if Muhyiddin uses it to remain prime minister and keeps his Perikatan Nasional government in Putrajaya.

“We can smell it, this last attempt to save his government. For this reason, calling an emergency will violate democracy,” said Tun Razak division chief Rizalman Mokhtar.

However, Rizalman added that some of the grassroots are also confused between supporting democratic principles and the need to resolve a major public health crisis.

“Which is right, if it is true that it can address the pandemic, or is it really true that Muhyiddin will use this to stay in power?

“We know Muhyiddin may want to avoid the parliamentary process in case he is defeated at the budget.”

Rizalman said he also saw the logic of an emergency in wanting to avoid a snap general election, should Muhyiddin fail a test of confidence when the budget is voted on.

“I can see this. 

“But whatever the case, rumours of a possible emergency are causing people to be restless. It will affect the economy and investors. It is a very unhealthy situation for the people,” he said.

Federal Territory Umno Youth chief Mohd Nizham Abdullah Hamidi also said members in his division are split in their views over an emergency.

They are in tune with their party’s disgruntlement towards Muhyiddin’s Bersatu and can see how an emergency would allow him to stay in power.

But Nizham said he would support an emergency if its goal was to beat the pandemic, adding that this was not the first time the government implemented an emergency to deal with disasters.

He recalled the emergency proclaimed in Port Klang and Kuala Selangor for three days in 2005 due to the haze crisis.

He also agreed that an emergency would prevent elections from being held until the number of Covid-19 infections daily decrease.

“The government should provide a clear explanation to address people’s anxiety and confusion (about an emergency),” he said.

Umno leaders who have openly disagreed with Muhyiddin’s plans for an emergency include party deputy president Mohamad Hasan, who urged Putrajaya to maintain democratic systems while addressing the pandemic. 

The virus outbreak, he said, should instead be fought with scientific approaches.

Umno veteran and Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah also disagreed with the emergency proposal, calling it the “final nail in the coffin” for Malaysia’s economy already weakened by the pandemic.

The emergency proposal has been strongly condemned by the public, opposition politicians, academia and medical practitioners. 

Critics of the move argue that there are other laws and measures to address the rising number of Covid-19 cases, and that Muhyiddin is blatantly holding on to power.

Lending credence to the notion that Muhyiddin is simply seeking to stay in power, other media are also reporting that the emergency proposal had come from Bersatu members in the cabinet, where Umno is outnumbered by Bersatu 9 to 11.

News portal The Vibes said Bersatu members were the strongest supporters of the proposal at Friday’s special cabinet meeting, while Umno was averse to it. – October 25, 2020.