Kuala Lumpur, 18 Jan 2021 (The Capital Post)- The DAP Secretary General YB Lim Guan Eng rejects the rationale by Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan that recent Proclamation of Emergency is not politically motivated but about saving lives to better manage the recent surge in Covid-19, in a press statement released in his official Twitter account.
He questions how the suspension of Parliament can result in Covid-19 magically disappearing.
The Bagan MP also shows his dissatisfaction on using the Emergency as a tool for Covid-19 instead of Movement Control Order (MCO) and also criticized for the not so successful current MCO due to the governments double standards.
“Abandoning of 3Ts of testing, tracing and treatment, especially full screening test for all close contacts of Covid-19 is wrong”, he added.
He also questions the current cabinets lack of prioritizing and competency due to the failure to full implementation of 3Ts since it is the effective way to curb the virus from spreading.
The senior politician also stated without parliamentary oversight cabinets management of Covid-19 cannot be addressed, procurement contracts could be signed through negotiated tenders without open tenders and the parliament would not be the platform to highlight public pleas for help such as extension of bank moratorium, rental relief for shopping outlets during MCO and EPF contribution self-withdrawal and raise of monthly welfare payments.
“Instead, we have witnessed a series of government flip flops in first prohibiting business sectors from operating like the automotive industry, optical and optometry as well as laundromat, before making a U turn”, added Guan Eng.
He also said the government should not randomly classify certain businesses as non-essential service and prohibit from operating, even though they have few or free from Covid-19 cases.
He insists the suspension of parliament should be revoked and the parliamentary functions should be restored so the MPs can be the people voice to articulate their problems in parliament.
“It is ironical that an unelected government can carry on as normal, but not elected MPs”, he said.
The parliament sittings have been cancelled after the Proclamation of Emergency came into active since 12 Jan. The Capital Post