01-17-2021, 04:43 PM
Ten former Bar presidents: Perikatan govt’s Emergency laws ‘dangerous precedent’, table in Parliament first now
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 — The current federal government’s successful push for a declaration of a nationwide Emergency on Malaysia and the subsequent Ordinance or law created under the Emergency with sweeping powers for the government without the necessary checks and balances is a “dangerous precedent”, ten former presidents of the Malaysian Bar said today.
In a statement today, the former leaders of the legal professional body that represents all lawyers in Peninsular Malaysia voiced their concern over the decision of the government’s decision to seek the declaration of an Emergency via a Proclamation by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
They argued that the conditions of a “grave emergency” with only the “most extreme” of circumstances — that would be required for such an Emergency declaration — were not present when the Emergency was called.
“In the final analysis, it is very troubling that the government has set a dangerous precedent for the use of Proclamations when the requisite conditions are not met under the Constitution.
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