The Sabah Law Society has raised concerns over any planned emergency provisions that would affect state matters without going through the state assembly.

Its chief Roger Chin said this was as a declared state of emergency would permit Putrajaya to issue directives and enact laws that encroach on state matters.

"An emergency declaration would mean that the federal government can expand its authority to any matter, even including those within the jurisdiction of state governments, according to Article 150(4) of the Federal Constitution.

"Such laws would affect states as these would not have been passed by...