IN his Hari Raya message, former Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim reminded the public to continue speaking out against the Government, to put the latter in the right path in dealing with COVID-19 and democracy as a whole.
“Though we are not given the opportunity yet to take our frustrations to the ballot box, the people must continue to voice out their grievances and correct the Government if they make mistakes.
“Only the people’s power can defeat leaders who love to misuse the military and police. The public is the only stumbling block against anyone who wishes to rule continuously using Emergency powers,” he said, in a Facebook post.
In February, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin declared an Emergency, with consent from the Yang d-Pertuan Agong, to stem the rise of the pandemic. The Emergency is scheduled to end in August.
However, the Pagoh MP refused to reconvene the Parliament despite Istana Negara saying that the monarch has no issues with the Parliament conducting its business as usual.
On that note, Zaid stressed the need for the Emergency to be lifted in August as scheduled, calling on the rakyat to keep reminding the Government of the said promise.
Beware of the “pack of wolves”, Muhyiddin
He also said that the public should understand that COVID-19 and the Emergency were two separate issues, as most other nations managed to stem the pandemic without invoking Emergency powers.
Zaid added that other nations did not jail their citizens for breaching standard operating procedures (SOP), while only imposing fair fines on those who breached SOP, no matter who they are.
“Malaysians are facing two problems now. One is COVID-19 which has multiple vaccines, though we were slow in getting them.
“Another problem is the Emergency, which has no cure. Our Parliament can be prorogued indefinitely by those wish to rule to their whims and fancies.
“It means, a fascist and dictatorial regime can emerge if the Emergency is not lifted by August. Therefore, I urge everyone to reject any moves to extend Emergency rule beyond the timeline specified,” he stressed.
While he believed in Muhyiddin’s promise of ending the Emergency in August, Zaid cautioned the same cannot be said about several of his opportunistic Cabinet ministers, who may want to extend it for their own selfish interests.
“It can happen. If Muhyiddin can sideline Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad with the help of this gang, I won’t be surprised if these ‘pack of wolves’ dislodge the prime minister himself later.
“Remember what happened to Rome’s ruler, Julius Caesar, when he tried to embark on changes by altering its Senate’s powers. He was murdered by powerful Senators, including his own friend Brutus.
“So, I urge Muhyiddin to be cautious for everyone’s sake,” Zaid reminded.” – May 13, 2021.
