Home Civil Society Voices Jangan sengaja mudaratkan demokrasi Malaysia (Malay/English)

Jangan sengaja mudaratkan demokrasi Malaysia (Malay/English)

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[ENGLISH VERSION BELOW] Kami, ahli-ahli yang sebahagian CSO Platform for Reform, berasa gusar dan bimbang oleh khabar berita pada 23 Oktober 2020 bahawa kemungkinan darurat akan diisytiharkan oleh Perdana Menteri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Masa dan konteks politik pengumuman tersebut hadir adalah pada ketika yang sangat tidak sesuai. Pada minggu ini, Malaysia telah merekodkan bilangan kes Covid-19 yang dilaporkan paling tinggi dalam sehari, bilangan yang dimasukkan ke hospital akibat Covid-19 yang terbanyak dan angka kematian yang paling tinggi yang dilaporkan dalam sehari.

Pada masa yang sama, penduduk di Sabah dan Selangor masih bergelut dengan ketakutan terhadap pandemik ini dan seringkali berubah keperluan untuk aktiviti ekonomi dan pekerjaan mereka.

Rakyat Malaysia tidak akan tertipu dengan cadangan bahawa proklamasi darurat adalah diperlukan untuk menangani pandemik Covid-19. Perintah kawalan pergerakan yang dilaksanakan oleh negara sebelum ini, walaupun sangat sukar dan mencabar kepada negara, telah membuktikan kepada dunia bahawa Malaysia mampu melawan Covid-19 melalui kerangka perundangan dan mekanisme penguatkuasaan yang sedia ada.

Malangnya, kegagalan Malaysia melawan Covid-19 hanyalah wujudnya imuniti undang-undang yang dinikmati oleh sesetengah ahli politik apabila mereka melanggar arahan sekatan yang dikenakan untuk mencegah penularan Covid-19.

Dengan bukti yang jelas bahawa proklamasi darurat adalah tidak diperlukan untuk melawan Covid-19, maka hanya ada satu penjelasan yang masuk akal di dalam minda rakyat Malaysia. Langkah kerajaan Perikatan Nasional ini akan ditafsirkan dan dilihat sebagai gerakan politik untuk memastikan kawalan terhadap negara demi kelangsungan kepimpinan dan pentadbiran mereka.

Keadaan darurat akan memberi jalan kepada perdana menteri dan pentadbirannya untuk menghalang cabaran terhadap kepimpinannya di Parlimen serta mengelakkan Parlimen meneliti dan membahaskan belanjawan nasional yang akan dibentangkan pada sesi Parlimen akan datang.

Apabila perdana menteri berjaya dalam undi untuk menggantikan Yang di-Pertua Dewan Rakyat dengan 111 kepada 109, sekurang-kurangnya ia telah memberikan keabsahan kepada pentadbiran mereka. Sekiranya pentadbiran Muhyiddin ingin mengisytiharkan darurat untuk mengelak daripada undi tidak percaya di Parlimen, cakap-cakap bahawa PN sebagai kerajaan yang tidak sah akan mendalam dan menyebabkan sebarang usaha untuk kompromi politik antara semua parti akan gagal.

Selain itu, belanjawan yang diluluskan oleh pentadbiran sekarang tanpa sebarang penelitian dan pandangan daripada ahli parlimen, serta secara tidak langsung oleh orang ramai, adalah belanjawan yang tidak mungkin akan memberi manfaat ekonomi kepada negara.

READ MORE:  There were two Batang Kali tragedies - lest we forget

Perbahasan yang kukuh dan prolifik berdasarkan kepentingan negara di Parlimen adalah satu-satunya jalan untuk memastikan bahawa belanjawan yang diusulkan adalah belanjawan yang akan menangani keperluan ekonomi negara serta memastikan Malaysia akan keluar daripada pandemik ini dengan lebih gagah.

Pengisytiharan darurat akan menjadi satu lagi tindakan khianat oleh Muhyiddin Yassin dan sekutunya terhadap Malaysia. Cuma kali ini ianya tidak hanya mengkhianati kepercayaan rakyat pada pilihan raya umum yang lepas, kali ini ianya juga adalah pengkhianatan kepada pengorbanan petugas barisan hadapan yang merisiko keselamatan sendiri untuk melindungi kepentingan dan kesejahteraan negara.

Rakyat Malaysia di seluruh peringkat telah berkorban untuk memastikan kedudukan Malaysia, dalam menangani isu Covid-19, berada di tahap yang masih terkawal. Petugas barisan hadapan telah berkorban untuk memastikan Covid-19 dapat dicegah.

PN tidak boleh dibiarkan untuk merendah-rendahkan apa yang telah kita korbankan.

Malaysia yang demokratik yang dikelola oleh kedaulatan undang-undang adalah apa yang kita perjuangkan, dan harus tetap teguh walaupun ada perselisihan politik yang mungkin wujud antara kita.

English version

Don’t wilfully undermine a democratic Malaysia

We, the undersigned members of the CSO Platform for Reform, are concerned with the news of a possible declaration of a state of emergency by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on 23 October 2020.

The timing and political context of the announcement cannot come at a worse time. Just this week, Malaysia has recorded the highest number of reported cases in a day, the largest number of Covid-19 hospitalisations and the highest number of deaths reported in a day.

At the same time, people of Sabah and Selangor are still struggling with the constant fear of the pandemic alongside the uncertain and constantly changing requirements for work and economic activities.

Malaysians are not deluded by the suggestion that a state of emergency is required to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. The movement control order, despite its difficulty and challenge for the country, has proven to the world that Malaysia is able to fight off Covid-19 with the existing legal and enforcement mechanisms.

The only failure in Malaysia’s struggle against Covid-19 is the legal immunity enjoyed by politicians when they flout restrictions imposed to curb the transmission of Covid-19.

READ MORE:  There were two Batang Kali tragedies - lest we forget

With clear evidence that a state of emergency is not necessary for combating Covid-19, only one rational explanation remains in the minds of most Malaysians. The move by the Perikatan Nasional government will be interpreted and seen as political manoeuvring to secure control over the country for the survival of the administration and its leadership.

A state of emergency now would allow the prime minister and his administration an avenue to thwart the challenge posed against its leadership in Parliament and avoid parliamentary scrutiny and debate with regard to the merits of the national budget that would be tabled in the upcoming Parliament session.

When the prime minister survived the vote to replace the Speaker in Parliament by 111 votes to 109, it, at the very least, gave a degree of legitimacy to the administration.

If the administration was to declare a state of emergency in a bid to evade the vote of no confidence in Parliament, the notion that PN is an illegitimate government will be entrenched and derail any and all effort for a possible political compromise between all parties.

Furthermore, a budget passed by the current administration without the scrutiny and insight of parliamentarians and by extension the public will unlikely be one that is able to best serve the economic needs of the nation.

A prolific and robust debate in Parliament based on the interest of the nation is the only way to ensure the proposed budget is one that can address the economic needs of the country and ensure Malaysia would come out of the global pandemic stronger.

The declaration of emergency will serve as another act of betrayal by Muhyiddin Yassin and his political allies against Malaysians. Only this time, it would not only have betrayed the trust of the people in the 2018 general election, it would also betray the sacrifice of front line personnel who have risked personal safety to protect the interests and wellbeing of the nation.

Malaysians from all walks of life have sacrificed to carry Malaysia to where it is today. Frontline personnel have sacrificed to keep Covid-19 at bay.

PN cannot be allowed to wilfully undermine all that we have sacrificed for.

READ MORE:  There were two Batang Kali tragedies - lest we forget

A democratic Malaysia governed by the rule of law is what we fought for, and must be what remains regardless of the political disagreement Malaysians may have with one another.

Endorsed by:

  1. Suaram
  2. Pusat Komas
  3. Beyond Borders Malaysia
  4. Childline Foundation
  5. Save Rivers
  6. Sabah Human Rights Centre
  7. Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS)
  8. Jaringan Tanah Hak Adat Bangsa Asal Sarawak (Tahabas)
  9. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor (PSWS)
  10. Persatuan Kebajikan Biji Sawi (Mustard Seed Soup Kitchen)
  11. Community Action Network (CAN)
  12. Cahaya Society
  13. Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM)
  14. Kryss Network
  15. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
  16. Yayasan Chow Kit
  17. Bersih 2.0
  18. Aliran
  19. Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim)
  20. Society for Equality, Respect And Trust for All (Serata)
  21. All Women’s Action Society (Awam)
  22. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
  23. Freedom Film Network (FFN)
  24. Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia (Gerak)
  25. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) Youth
  26. Persatuan Komuniti Prihatin Selangor dan Kuala Lumpur
  27. Society of Indigenous Peoples of Sarawak (Scrips)
  28. Sarawak Malaysian Trades Union Congress and Sarawak Bank Employees Union
  29. Persatuan Promosi Hak Asasi Manusia (Proham)
  30. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)
  31. Advocates for Non-Discrimination and Access to Knowledge (Anak)
  32. Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia
  33. MyPJ
  34. G25
  35. Pacos Trust
  36. Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
  37. Association of Women Lawyers
  38. Sisters in Islam
  39. Sarawak Women for Women Society (SWWS)
  40. Sabah Women’s Action Resource Group (Sawo)
  41. Kuen Cheng Alumni Association
  42. The Selangor & Federal Territory Hainan Association
  43. Sabah Reform Initiative (Sari)
  44. Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM)
  45. Gerakan Pembebasan Akademik-IPT
  46. Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF)
  47. LLG Cultural Development Center (LLG)
  48. Dong Zong
  49. Tindak Malaysia
  50. Five Arts Centre
  51. Persatuan Pemangkin Daya Masyarakat (Rose)
  52. Malaysia Muda
  53. Save Malaysia Stop Lynas
  54. Pertubuhan Solidariti Hijau Kuantan
  55. Persatuan Penduduk Galing Kuantan
  56. Ideal
  57. Engage
  58. Justice for Sisters
  59. Baramkini
  60. University of Malaya Association of New Youth
  61. Voice of Youtharian
  62. Five Arts Centre
  63. ReformARTsi
  64. Youtar
  65. Tarany
  66. Malaysia Youths and Students Evolution (Johor Branch)
  67. Malaysia Youths and Students Evolution (Malacca headquarters)
  68. Students Progressive Front UUM
  69. Students Unity Fron,t UKM
  70. UTM MJIIT-Voices
  71. New Student Movement Alliance
  72. Our Journey
  73. Persatuan Kesedaran dan Keadilan Iklim Malaysia (Klima Action Malaysia, Kamy)
  74. Persatuan Pemangkin Kesedaran Sosial
  75. Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4)
  76. Jaffna Junction (Malaysia)
The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
  1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
  2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
  3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
  4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
  5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
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loyal malaysian
loyal malaysian
24 Oct 2020 6.39pm

May the effort of these 76 organisations succeed.
Hopefully the constitutional monarch has been given wise counsel .
If all and sundry can see the move to declare a state of emergency as a desperate ploy by the backdoor PM to cling to power, it will not be difficult for a power that claims to have the rakyat’s well being close to heart to decide what is the best course of action!!

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