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| Police officers check vehicles at a roadblock during an enhanced lockdown, amid the COVID-19 outbreak, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jul 3, 2021. (File photo BY=REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s law minister Takiyuddin Hassan revealed on Monday (Jul 26) that the country will not extend a months-long national state of emergency when it ends on Aug 1, according to news agencies.
Malaysia has been under emergency rule since January, with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin debating that it's needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But critics have slammed the move and accused the premier of trying to cling to power amid a slim majority. The state of emergency allowed the government to rule by decree and suspend Parliament, prompting critics to accuse Muhyiddin of using the crisis to avoid a no-confidence vote and shore up his weak coalition. Despite the emergency and strict lockdowns, the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia has only worsened, triggering public anger.
Minister Takiyuddin said the government will not ask the king to extend the emergency. He’s speaking in parliament, which had been suspended due to the emergency but convened for a special session on Monday. Facing mounting public anger and pressure from the king, Muhyiddin agreed to reconvene the legislature for a five-day sitting before the state of emergency officially ends next month. Meanwhile, Malaysia reported a record number of cases on Sunday, taking the total number of infections past 1 million. Its per capita infection rate is the highest in the region.
