WITH Law Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan raising eyebrows saying that the Emergency Ordinances (EO) has been annulled, an opposition linked lawyer queried on why the matter was not made official using the Government gazette.
“I’m not going to touch on whether it is legal for the Cabinet to annul EO on its own. I believe there are other experts who will argue that there are processes involved before Emergency laws can be revoked.
“But I want to ask why the so-called annulment was only announced today? If what the minister said was true, it means six days have passed since EO has been rendered null and void but the public was not informed of it,” Syahredzan Johan said, in a post.
Earlier today, Takiyuddin told the Dewan Rakyat that Putrajaya had cancelled all EO that were enacted this year, on July 21 during a Cabinet meeting.
“The Government has decided, based on Article 150(3) (of the Federal Constitution), to cancel all emergency ordinances (formulated) during the proclamation of emergency.
“Hence, (the laws have been) revoked. Therefore, the issue of annulment (of the laws) is no longer relevant,” Malaysiakini reported him as saying.
As of press time, no new gazette has been issued on the Attorney-General’s Chambers website on the annulment of EO.
Violating people’s rights
On that note, Syahredzan pointed out that since July 21, many individuals and businesses were issued compounds under the EO, with some even having their properties seized and publications taken away by the authorities.
“So, is the Government going to compensate the affected parties? Apart from ministers, no one know the EO were no longer in effect, including enforcement officers,” he stated.
Calling it a cruel act, Syahredzan accused the Government of violating the people’s fundamental rights by not making public of such important decision.
“The people have the right to know if there are changes in our laws, if not by gazette, at least via public announcement.
“We are talking about laws affecting 32 million Malaysians, not some message on group Whatsapp chat,” he remarked. – July 26, 2021
Photo credit: MalaysiaKini
