Proposed Emergency May Put The Final Nail In The Coffin Of Our Economy
24 October 2020 - Press Statement by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah
1)
The Covid Pandemic has caused so much pain, distress and suffering
to the man-on-the-street and it breaks my heart every time I hear or
read stories on how the ordinary Rakyat are struggling and coping with
the crisis.
2)
Every day, more and more businesses, big and small, are closing
down. More people are getting laid off and unemployed. For the many
self-employed consultants and contractors, there is hardly any work out
there for them. Yet, they somehow have to feed and provide the basic
necessities for themselves and their families.
3)
When the pandemic first started, there seemed to be some
determination by the Government to control the spread of the disease and
to provide the necessary healthcare and treatment needed for the
patients concerned. Financial aid was right provided. The front line
workers and the civil servants are still doing a good job, even now, in
providing the services needed.
4)
Over time and lately, there seems to be a lack of a coordinated and
integrated approach in dealing with the crisis in what appears to be a
lack of clear and exemplary leadership by the Government. There are also
double standards on the enforcement and penalty meted out, one for the
ordinary Rakyat and another for government ministers and well connected
people. Even on the procurement of the much-needed Covid vaccines for
our people from overseas, the Government has taken a narrow,
short-sighted and irresponsible approach of not supporting any genuine
private sector initiatives, knowing full well that it would cost the
Government nothing but would increase the chances of our country getting
a workable vaccine when it is ready.
5)
As I have reasons to believe that the Prime Minister (and his
Cabinet) no longer commands the support of a majority of the Dewan
Rakyat and has therefore, lost his legitimacy, I have recently written
to the Speaker of Dewan Rakyat to treat a “motion of no confidence” as a
matter of priority to be debated and voted on at the earliest possible
opportunity. This is in line with the principles of our Parliamentary
System of Democracy, which the Constitution is supreme and above that of
the Standing Orders and the authority of the House is far above that of
a government minister. My initiative with the Speaker, should not be
seen as self-serving or that I may have a vested interest in the
position of the prime minister, but in upholding the principles of our
Parliamentary System.
6)
I am dismayed and shocked that the Prime Minister (with the support
of his Cabinet) is now seeking the consent of our YDP Agong to declare a
state of emergency and presumably to put himself in charge of this
emergency administration which would have far-reaching powers.
7)
I am not questioning the right of any Prime Minister to seek a
declaration for a state of emergency with the YDP Agong as stipulated in
our Constitution but rather the basis, rationale, timing and the real
motive for it. We are now having a public healthcare crisis that is
severely impacting the livelihood and economy of our people and which
the Government may not be managing the crisis in the best interest of
the public. The public and politicians across the divide, except for a
few recalcitrants, are co-operating with the Government on the measures
and SOPs. Our Parliamentary System of Democracy is working well and
there are no mass rebellion or riots on our streets. I cannot see any
honest basis for such a request while I can only suspect non-honourable
motives behind it.
8)
If the Prime Minister were to get his way in imposing the proposed
state of emergency, as an economist myself and the former Minister of
Finance and former Minister of International Trade & Industry (and
former Chairman of World Bank & IMF), I can say with some certainty
that it may be the “final nail in the coffin” of our already battered
economy. Local and foreign investors would shun us completely. Business
confidence would be at ground zero.
- Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah
*Media Assistant : Azmi Anshar Email: azmianshar@gmail.com
