FT Minister Asks For Advice To Put Political Struggle On Hold In A Facebook Post
Annuar Musa urged people to advice him about laws that can be used to avoid the need for an election amidst the speculations that the government plans to invoke emergency powers to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Sadho Ram — 24 Oct 2020, 01:41 PM — Updated about 4 years ago
Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa has taken to Facebook to ask for advice from the people with regards to laws that the government can use to put the struggle for political power on hold
In a post on his Facebook profile, the UMNO secretary-general addressed those with legal knowledge especially "constitutional experts" to help him solve the current political situation in the country.
His Facebook post, that was made at midnight, 24 October, came after his Twitter post, in which he made a similar plea with regards to laws that can be used to avoid the need for an election amidst the speculations that the government plans to invoke emergency powers to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) government is reportedly seeking to declare what the mainstream media and experts have described "economic, health, or political emergency".
While there has been no official word on it yet, the Comptroller of the Royal Household for Istana Negara issued a statement earlier today, 24 October, saying that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong will be consulting the Malay Rulers on the proposals raised by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday.
On Facebook, Annuar listed down three issues that he needs help with
The first being the issue of the Batu Sapi by-election, the second was about the Sarawak state election, and the third was about overthrowing the Prime Minister through a parliamentary session next month.
- The Batu Sapi by-election must be held within 60 days of the vacancy. But the people ask for the by-election to be postponed and officials are afraid to go to the red zone.
- The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly period expires in a few months and the state elections must be held. However, everyone is afraid of what happened in Sabah after the state election. They asked the election to be postponed first.
- Various parties threaten to overthrow the Prime Minister through a parliamentary session next month. If that happens then the PM can dissolve parliament and the general elections need to be held. But the people do not want elections to be held amidst the current fear about spreading COVID-19.
For the record, the Batu by-election is due to be held in the first week of December this year after the seat became vacant with the passing of Datuk Liew Vui Keong on 2 October.
The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, meanwhile, is set to automatically be dissolved on 7 June 2021. Following which, the Sarawak state election must be held in the first week of August next year.
The 15th general election (GE15) is scheduled to be held on or before 16 September 2023.
"Which law can be applied to postpone the election?"
The FT Minister then asked to be advised about the laws that the government can use to "ensure that COVID-19 is controlled and does not threaten the lives of the people".
He wrote that currently there are thousands of COVID-19 patients who are in hospitals with thousands of frontliners and security personnel having to undergo quarantine and that billions of national fund have to be spent.
"The struggle for political power for the sake of democracy at a time when the people are fighting for their lives with the threat of COVID-19... What power and which law can we [use to] postpone this power struggle?" he asked.
Annuar also questioned the need to prioritise the democracy for the fear of being accused by the opposition and "just let the election take place here and there" and let the lives of the people left to destiny.
