THOSE who oppose the emergency declaration by the government to curb Covid-19 are more despicable than terrorists, said PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

The prime minister’s special envoy to the Middle East defended the government’s action in declaring a state of emergency even though the Covid-19 infection rates today are higher compared to before the declaration.

Hadi’s statement is aimed at rejecting calls for an immediate end to the emergency by opposition parties who will be meeting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong soon.

The King has already agreed to grant an audience to opposition members who will be forwarding the request but Hadi dismissed such efforts as an extreme political act.

 “...Many have overlooked that today there is a group of political extremists, who neglect human lives for the sake of their political agenda.

 “Their greed is worse than religious extremists who detonate bombs and kill (a) far smaller number of innocent lives compared to the victims of Covid-19…”

 Hadi added that the parties who oppose the emergency declaration only acted to regain political power.

“Their reason is merely political, which is trying to disrupt the government’s efforts.”

 Hadi said that these groups do not care about the pandemic’s dangers as they have become obsessed with politicking.

 “Although economic and security factors are often cited, in truth this effort is merely an act that is motivated by their extreme political desires.

 “However, they still could not abandon their extreme political attitude after losing power due to internal tussles and infighting.”

 Opposition members mobilised efforts through the Committee for Ending the Emergency Declaration to appeal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to end the emergency.

 The committee received a letter from Istana Negara last Thursday stating that His Majesty has agreed to grant an audience to the committee on an unspecified date.

 This reply was in response to the letter sent by the committee to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong two days earlier requesting an audience to appeal for the end of the emergency.

 The initiative was mobilised in mid-March through a petition for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to end the emergency at an earlier date.

 The emergency, in effect from 11 January until 1 August, halts all Parliament and state assembly proceedings.

This measure received a lot of criticism from many parties, particularly as it enables the government to spend national funds without any checks and balances.

 Recently, the government announced that it will use funds from Kumpulan Wang Amanah Negara (KWAN) to purchase vaccines and to spend on matters related to curbing Covid-19. – April 26, 2021.