Targeted emergency the way to go


TARGETED moratorium for bank loan repayments, argues Abdul Farid Alias, is the best solution for the country.

Providing a blanket moratorium is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, says Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

Others argue that even first world economies eschew a blanket approach.

If so, would a targeted emergency be the best solution as well? Should the country not use a sledgehammer emergency? Should the country shun a blanket emergency?

Make no mistake that the Covid-19 pandemic is a state of affairs that is of emergency proportions. But, it is submitted it would be more appropriate for the government to declare a ‘public health emergency’ while also introducing specific legislation for such purpose.

Even the prime minister’s private secretary, Marzuki Mohamad concedes that the state of emergency in the country is a health emergency, or “darurat kesihatan”. It does not warrant a National Operations Council-like body to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and bring the country out of the health and economic crisis.

One may also argue that it does not warrant a “blanket” emergency – a “legislative model” emergency will suffice.

Common law countries like the United Kingdom and its former colonies, namely New Zealand, Australia and Singapore – all first world economies – have shown that the legislative model does work, and have worked to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. The war, though, is not over.

Perhaps one may call such an emergency a targeted emergency. It has been done before – done trice, in fact, last year. The first is the proclamation “that a grave emergency exists and that this Proclamation shall extend throughout the Parliamentary Constituency of P.185 Batu Sapi, Sabah”.

The second is the proclamation “that a grave emergency exists and that this Proclamation shall extend throughout the Parliamentary Constituency of P.054 Gerik, Perak.” 

The third proclamation similarly also extends only to the state constituency of N.66 Bugaya, Sabah.

Like targeted moratorium, targeted emergency should be the way to go. – June 16, 2021.

* 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.


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