THE Istana Negara has consented to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s proposal to declare an Emergency, following the continuing trend of daily four-digit COVID-19 cases in the country since December.
In a statement, the Palace said that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah ibni Almarhum Sultan Ahmad Shah made the decision following a 45-minutes meeting with the Prime Minister yesterday.
“After receiving feedback from Muhyiddin and other key persons, Sultan Abdullah is of the view that the COVID-19 cases in the country is getting critical and there is a need to proclaim an Emergency under Article 150 (1) of the Federal Constitution.
“It is worth to note that the Agong had also referred the matter to the Council of Rulers before making the decision,” said Istana Negara’s Comptroller of the Royal Household, Datuk Indera Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin.
Apart from Muhyiddin, Sultan Abdullah also consulted key officials such as Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun, Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Elections Commission chief commissioner Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador and the Malaysian Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Affendi Buang.
Explaining the decision, Fadil said that Sultan Abdullah made the decision to protect the wellbeing of the rakyat, as the Government’s healthcare facility is at a breaking point due to COVID-19.
“The hospital beds (non-intensive care unit) are now at 70% capacity. In the Klang Valley alone, the Kuala Lumpur Hospital and the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre are at 100% capacity, while Sungai Buloh Hospital is at 83%.
“As for other states like Perak, Selangor, Malacca, Terengganu and Sarawak, their hospitals’ capacity is above 70%,” he said.
Committee of Gov’t, Opposition lawmakers
On the duration of the Emergency, Fadil said the monarch had consented for it to run until Aug 1, or any date sooner, once the COVID-19 cases go down to a manageable number.
“With that in mind, Sultan Abdullah had decreed for an independent committee to be formed, consisting of Government and Opposition MPs, with health experts in it.
“The independent committee will be tasked to advise the Ruler on when to lift the Emergency, once COVID-19 cases subside,” he said.
Fadil said that Sultan Abdullah was also concerned about the flood situation in many states, and urged the authorities to act fast to help his subjects.
“Sultan Abdullah urged his subjects to remain calm and adhere to the standard operating procedure (SOP) and other regulations that comes together with the movement control order (MCO).
“The Ruler also wishes to extend his appreciation to the frontliners, who are working tirelessly to combat the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added. – Jan 12, 2021.
