WHEN Malaysians started panic buying, I wrote that the prime minister needed to talk to the people, like his Singaporean counterpart did in a similar situation across the Causeway.

Yes, talk to and not talk at his fellow citizens.

But since news broke that the cabinet has decided to declare a state of emergency amid political instability and the Covid-19 pandemic, the prime minister has not been heard.

He had an audience with the king but has not had an audience with the people.

Perhaps the prime minister thinks he should remain incommunicado until the king decides whether to grant him his consent for an emergency declaration.

When the British parliament was prorogued by the Queen on the advice of the prime minister, it might have surprised the British people but it was swiftly done. Outrage, criticisms, protests and demonstrations were equally swift in coming, but post-announcement of the prorogation.

Here, Malaysians have been kept in suspense since Friday. Even the media can only second guess what transpired at prime minister’s audience with the king.

Markets reacted sharply to the Boris Johnson government’s move to suspend parliament, sending the British sterling plunging, among other effects.

Malaysians have reacted to the news of an impending emergency, but how will the markets react tomorrow? 

The prime minister needs to talk to the people and the business community. – October 25, 2020.

* Hafiz Hassan reads The Malaysian Insight.
 

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.