UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had proposed not to extend the emergency and reconvene Parliament in his one-hour audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong today.

He told reporters after his audience with the King that Umno’s stand was clear – emergency should not be extended after August and Parliament should reconvene immediately.

“This is to ensure that the country’s democratic system can be defended and there is an element of check and balance in all aspects related to the country’s administration,” the Umno president said.

The King has been meeting with political leaders since Wednesday, starting with Prime Minister Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president and Pakatan Harapan leaders – Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Guan Eng and Mohamad Sabu.

Yesterday, the King had an audience with Dr Mahathir Mohamad, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, MCA president Wee Ka Siong and Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Zahid said that extending the emergency after August will cause further harm to the country and claimed that the pandemic was well managed even without the proclamation. 

“We (Umno) presented to Tuanku for the emergency not to continue after August 1, as the consequences would be greater for the country (if continued).

“And it is proven that even without an emergency before, the government could still manage issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

The Bagan Datuk MP said reconvening Parliament is important as it would be the official platform to raise the concerns of the public. 

“Parliament is very important as an official platform to voice the voices of the people and their interest like increase in price of goods, i-Sinar 2.0, i-Lestari 2.0 and various other incentives, not only limiting to the B40 group but also M40 group,” he said, adding that even people among the T20 group were affected by the pandemic. 

Zahid said their discussion did not involve the setting up of the National Operations Council (NOC), which was proposed by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. 

He said the current emergency should suffice to handle the crisis but claimed that it is being put to use for the wrong purposes. 

“We did not discuss the NOC. 

“I feel it (NOC) is something outside the normal and existing situation because the emergency is supposed to cover the (current) issues but it is used to achieve other purposes,” he said. – June 11, 2021.