10-24-2020, 10:16 AM
Nationwide emergency disproportionate and may invite constitutional crisis, Malaysian Bar warns
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — The Malaysian Bar today urged Putrajaya to reconsider its purported proposal to seek emergency powers to handle the third wave of Covid-19, saying such a move would be disproportionate.
In a statement, it said that declaring an emergency may result in a constitutional crisis, adding that Malaysia already has sufficient measures in place to combat the pandemic, such as the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
“Declaring a nationwide emergency is disproportionate as there are already standard operating procedures in place.
“The Malaysian Bar is concerned that an emergency would cause a plunge in confidence for individuals and businesses alike,” its president Salim Bashir said.
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