RESTORE DEMOCRACY, SUPPORT #TAMATDARURAT CALL

19 April 2021

By Wartawan Nabalu News

KOTA KINABALU: The state of emergency has been declared but it has never lowered the Covid-19 cases and Malaysians have had enough, said Kapayan State Assemblyman Jannie Lasimbang.

She voiced that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government must come to their senses that they have failed in managing the pandemic even after a year.

"People are getting exasperated. Clearly, the PN government's failure has no solution to prevent the Covid-19 virus from spreading, and people are dealing with hardships and financial resources are getting scarce.

"With higher COVID-19 cases, schools may be closed down and business cannot run. Hawkers have already started strong protests about not being allowed small-scale Ramadhan sale," she said in a statement today.

Jannie also questioned whether the emergency declaration is to save people or purely just a political ploy for PN to survive

Jannie Lasimbang

"The newly introduced Section 103B of the Income Tax Act by PN practically forces taxpayers to ‘pay first and talk later', as they cannot even plead to the High Court for a stay order."

Jannie asserted that the PN government running short of funds can be attributed to its failure to manage the pandemic as well as its bloated Cabinet that’s eating up valuable resources.

PN has reportedly spent RM622 billion on various Covid-19 economic stimulus packages but has failed to impact Malaysia’s economy positively and reach the needy due to incompetence and bringing about economic and political instabilities that are now driving away investors, she added.

"With the vaccination of cabinet members and MPs, parliament should now be open, and no more excuses should be given. The PN government must stop stealing the democratic rights of all Malaysians," she stressed, while also urging the GRS government to do the same in Sabah and call for the assembly sitting to resume.

"Legislative functions and the parliamentary institutions need to be restored and reconvened so effective solutions for the pandemic and economic crises can be collectively found. Without parliament, Malaysia is no longer a functioning democracy," she added.

The public has also been called to support the #TamatDarurat (end emergency) campaign and restore the power of the people by signing the petition at https://tamatdarurat.com/tandatangan.