THE PROCLAMATION OF EMERGENCY MORE ON SAVING PRIME MINISTER’S POSITION

25 OCTOBER 2020

KOTA BELUD: The speculation of emergency proclamation, if implemented, is likely only to save the prime minister’s position, Kadamaian State Assemblyman Datuk Ewon Benedick said, expressing his perspective.

“Indeed, we admit that the Covid-19 spread situation is very worrying, especially in Sabah. The transmission of the virus has increased drastically after the state election and we all know why the election had to be held.

“However, using Covid-19 as a justification to declare an emergency order only shows the weakness of the Government because we already have the relevant rules that can be used, namely the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) which is still being used to enforce the Movement Control Order (MCO)." he said in a statement today.

Ewon, who is also the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) Vice President said:

“If the Prime Minister is really serious in tackling the Covid-19 spread instead of saving his position, then he could form a cooperation involving all political parties in the Government and this will eliminate the political crisis in the Dewan Rakyat that he is very much worried about," he said.

"Politically, the proclamation of emergency will be a 'nightmare' to Sabah because several constitutional and legal amendments were made during the period of the emergency proclamation such as the Petroleum Development Act 1974 where Sabah has lost its rights to its oil and gas resources forever," he said.