PETALING JAYA: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim says he is taking the government to court to challenge its proclamation of emergency, describing it as an “egregious abuse of power”.
This comes just days after the PKR president had written to all MPs, urging them to write to the King to plead with him to revoke the proclamation and call for a parliamentary sitting as soon as possible.
He had expressed hope that the King would consider their request to revoke the order and direct a Parliament sitting to be convened before Jan 31 to debate the need for an emergency and matters related to Covid-19 and the economic crisis.
“I have announced our intention to appeal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to defend the constitution and the rakyat’s rights.
“At the same time, our legal team has been instructed to prepare the application to challenge the prime minister and government’s decision,” he said in a Facebook post today.
On Jan 12, the King had declared an emergency on the advice of the prime minister to last until Aug 1, or an earlier date, depending on the Covid-19 situation.
Anwar, describing the move as reckless and desperate, said it was devoid of rational basis and had placed a chasm between the people and their government.
“The line between democracy and dictatorship is blurring. The trust in Muhyiddin is withering by the day, with MPs withdrawing their support.
“It has become obvious that this emergency has less to do with combating the pandemic than clinging on to an illegitimate power that was attained through the back door.
“Are we to trust the words of an individual who betrayed his prime minister, his party (and by extension his coalition), and most criminally the trust and mandate of the rakyat?” he asked in his post.
Further, Anwar said, effective governance is what the people needed to survive in this time of crisis.
He also said that the movement control order did not appear to be providing any recovery plans for the country.
“What the people need are transparency and reassurance in these challenging times.
“Not what this minority government gives them. Not these sporadically planned announcements that give no clarity, no planning and no sympathy for the people’s needs,” he said.