KUALA LUMPUR: There is no justifiable reason for the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government to declare a state of emergency at the moment, former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.
He said even countries with more severe Covid-19 problems have not declared an emergency for the entire country but only for affected areas.
"None have suspended laws and Parliament as it would if Emergency is declared in Malaysia.
"There are no riots or violence in Malaysia, no breakdown of laws and order to justify an Emergency.
"But there is a need for some changes to be made to the government which seized power through undemocratic means," he wrote on his blog chedet.cc today.
Yesterday, talk was rife that the government was planning on declaring an emergency in the country.
This as Covid-19 cases continue to climb in several parts of the country, particularly Sabah.
However, as of now, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has yet to respond to the matter.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah this morning said he will consult the Malay Rulers based on the recommendations made to him by Muhyiddin yesterday.
Joining other opposition leaders, Dr Mahathir is also convinced that the plan to declare an emergency was Putrajaya's way of avoiding facing the Dewan Rakyat.
He said being in a state of emergency will not bring any new or positive impact to Malaysia regarding the Covid-19 outbreak since all necessary measures have already been taken by the government.
"But, an emergency would give extra power to the Prime Minister. What he has done so far has not mitigated the political, economic and social problems affecting the country.
"He has a huge Cabinet that has contributed nothing to the well-being of the people and the country.
"Faced with the possibility of being overthrown, the Prime Minister wants the powers under a state of Emergency.
"The only benefit would accrue to the Prime Minister, as Parliament would be paralysed. He would claim that it is the wish of the Palace."
Dr Mahathir also warned that declaring an Emergency will result in the stock market taking a dip, causing uneasiness among investors.
"If Emergency is declared then the market will collapse completely. The investors have no faith in the Prime Minister being able to manage the economy.
"He messed up the Covid-19 situation by trying to grab the government of Sabah. The present spike is entirely due to the Sabah election.
"So, the government has been changed. What good has it brought to Sabah?" he said.