LETTER | We, the undersigned, note with grave concern the latest political development of the rumoured decision by the cabinet to advise His Majesty Yang di-Pertuan Agong to declare a state of emergency.
According to Article 150 of the Federal Constitution, a Proclamation of Emergency may be issued by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong if he is satisfied that ‘a grave emergency exists whereby the security, or the economic life, or public order in the Federation or any part thereof is threatened’. At this moment in time, the country is nowhere near such a situation.
The country is admittedly facing an economic crisis, as well as a public health crisis related to Covid-19 infection especially in Sabah, both of which are really worrisome. The government through the Health Ministry, nonetheless, has sufficient legal and medical options to flatten the curve and bring the spread of the virus under control, as was done during the second wave.
We are concerned that the move to declare an Emergency under Article 150 is motivated by the unsettling political situation within the Perikatan Nasional government itself and the fear that their Budget 2021 may be defeated in the scheduled parliamentary session in early November.
If this is so, we would urge the PN government and all other MPs to let cool heads prevail and act responsibly as elected representatives of the rakyat. We urge them to demonstrate their commitment to preserving the democratic way of life, the fruits of a peaceful democratic transition, the rule of law and parliamentary democracy, the achievements of which have enhanced Malaysia’s reputation internationally. In the spirit of safeguarding national and people’s interest, they should show statesmanship by sitting down and negotiating a consensual budget to get it passed.
It needs no reminder that emergency rule amounts to a monopoly of power by the Executive without the necessary checks and balances by the judiciary and the legislature. This only serves to compromise good governance and undermine the rule of law and accountability. This suspension of and disregard for democratic institutions, if not taken seriously, would lead us down the slippery slope of authoritarian government and dictatorial rule, a familiar development in the last century. This in turn will harm our international standing, financial reputation, investment climate, and governmental credibility, the price of which all of us, the Rakyat, and the country will have to pay.
In view of this, we call for calmness, wisdom and statesmanship: Focus on the rakyat, stop politicking, sit down and negotiate, no emergency, please.
List of signatories:
1. Prof Emeritus Dato’ Dr Abdul Rahman Embong, retired academic
2. Prof Emerita Dato Dr Wazir Jahan Karim, Anthropologist and Conservationist
3. Prof Dr Syed Farid Alatas, National University of Singapore
4. Prof Emeritus Dr Tham Siew Yean, retired academic
5. Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Muhamad Hj Salleh
6. Prof Zaharom Nain, University of Nottingham Malaysia
7. Prof Dato' Dr. Mohammad Agus Yusoff, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
8. Prof Dr Maude E Phipps, Monash University Malaysia
9. Prof Dr Edmund Terence Gomez, Universiti Malaya
10. Prof Dr Sharmani Patricia Gabriel, Universiti Malaya
11. Prof Dr Teh Yik Koon, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia
12. Prof Dr Mohamed Aslam Haneef, International Islamic University of Malaysia
13. Prof Dr Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf, International Islamic University Of Malaysia
14. Prof Dr Chin Yee Whah, Universiti Sains Malaysia
15. Dr Ong Puay Liu, retired professor of anthropology
16. Abdul Halim Ali, retired professor of sociology
17. Dr Ahmad Mahdzan Ayob, retired professor, former university deputy vice-chancellor
18. Dr Francis Loh Kok Wah, retired professor of politics
19. Dr Subramaniam Pillay, retired academic and co-founder of Aliran
20. Dr Madeline Berma, retired academic; Fellow, Academy of Sciences Malaysia
21. Norani Othman, retired professor of sociology
22. Assoc Prof Dr Helen Ting, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
23. Dr Hew Wai Weng, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
24. Assoc Prof Dr.Lew Bon Hoi, New Era University College
25. Dr Lai Suat Yan, Universiti Malaya
26. Dr Khoo Ying Hooi, Universiti Malaya
27. Assoc Prof Dr Yeoh Seng Guan, Monash University Malaysia
28. Assoc Prof Dr Kuik Cheng Chwee, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
29. Dr Mohd Faizal Musa, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
30. Dr Greg Lopez, Murdoch University
31. Dr Charis Quay Huei Li, Université Paris-Saclay
32. Dr Rusaslina Idrus, Universiti Malaya
33. Dr Phua Kai Lit, retired associate professor
34. Assoc Prof Dr Sumit Mandal, University of Nottingham Malaysia
35. Dr Por Heong Hong, Universiti Sains Malaysia
36. Dr Lim Teck Ghee, retired academic
37. Assoc Prof Dr Khoo Gaik Cheng, University of Nottingham Malaysia
38. Dr Mazlan bin Che Soh, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
39. Dr Chong Wu Ling, Universiti Malaya
40. Dr Muhamad Azwan Abd Rahman, Universiti Utara Malaysia
41. Bealeatham Kalimuthu, retired academic
42. Dr Teo Lee Ken, independent researcher
43. Muhammad Ariff Asyrul Adnan, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
44. Rosli H Mahat, retired associate professor of physics
45. Dr Omar Shawkataly, retired academic
46. Dr Ngo Sheau Shi, Universiti Sains Malaysia
47. Dr Yuwana Podin, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
48. Dr Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar, International Islamic University of Malaysia
49. Azmyl Yusof, Sunway University
50. Dr Andrew Aeria, retired academic
51. Tricia Yeoh, PhD candidate, University of Nottingham Malaysia
52. Dr Azmil Tayeb, Universiti Sains Malaysia
53. Dr Koh Sin Yee, Monash University Malaysia
54. Dr Brendan J Gomez, independent scholar
55. Dr Show Ying Xin, Australian National University
56. Dr Ramze Endut, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
57. Dr V Selvaratnam, retired academic
58. Haris Zuan Jaharudin, academic & PhD candidate, Cranfield University
59. Fatimah Mohd Tajuddin, academic & PhD candidate
60. Mohd Sazni, MA candidate
61. Syahida Johan, academic
62. Ooi Kok Hin, MA candidate, independent researcher
63. Zikri Rahman, PhD candidate, National Chiao Tung University
64. Helmy Muhammad, PhD candidate
65. Aisyah Tajuddin, academic
66. Nabilah Huda, academic
67. Fairuzzaman Shaharuddin, PhD candidate
68. Dr Wan Manan Wan Muda, retired academic
69. Dr Azizan Bahari, retired academic, writer
70. Dr Wan Puspa Melati Wan Abdul Halim, academic
71. Marilyn Ong Siew Ai, retired academic
72. Dr Athi Sivan T. Mariappan, independent researcher
73. Dr Chan lean Heng, retired academic
74. Dr Wilson Tay Tze Vern, Taylor's University Malaysia
75. Fang Yi Xue, academic (INTI International University) & PhD Candidate
76. Dr Lee Hwok Aun, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute
77. Dr Sharifah Munirah Alatas, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
78. Dr Chai Ming Hock, Universiti Sains Malaysia
79. Ab Bassit Husain, academic, Universiti Kuala Lumpur
80. Akmal Hisham Abdul Rahim, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
81. Aznijar Mohd Yazid, Universiti Malaya
82. Dr Simon Soon, Universiti Malaya
83. Dr Chang Teck Peng, Tunku Abdul Rahman University College
84. Dr Wong Kok Keong, Berjaya University College
85. Dr Welyne Jeffrey Jehom, Universiti Malaya
86. Dr Ngeow Chow Bing, Universiti Malaya
87. Dr Muhamad Nadzri Mohamed Noor, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
88. Dr Peter Chang, Universiti Malaya
89. Assoc Prof Dr Sivachandralingam Sundara Raja, Universiti Malaya
90. Assoc Prof Dr Chang Yun Fah, Taylor’s University Malaysia
91. U K Menon, CEO, Espact Education
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
