Takiyuddin: Emergency won't be extended, laws already revoked on July 21

KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 — The government has decided not to extend the period of Emergency and its accompanying Ordinances post-August 1, Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said today.

The de facto law minister revealed in Parliament that the six Emergency Ordinances drafted and enforced during the period of Emergency were voided and annulled by the government on July 21 after a Cabinet meeting on the same date.

However, Malay Mail’s check showed that the abolishment has yet to be gazetted.

“I want to confirm that the government has agreed not to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to extend the Proclamation of Emergency when it ends on August 1.

“The government also decided, according to Article 150(3) of the Federal Constitution to revoke the Emergency Ordinances (EO) that was made during the Emergency proclamation, and because it was revoked the issue of annulments (of the Ordinances) is no more relevant.

“Also, all the Emergency Ordinances, a total of six that were made, the federal government has decided to revoke all of them effective July 21, 2021, not today, but on July 21,” said Takiyuddin, triggering a back and forth between lawmakers on both sides of the floor.

However, Takiyuddin stopped short of clarifying if the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had consented to the government’s decision to revoke the EOs.

This just as Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun then muted all MPs’ microphones and proceeded with the day’s agenda that saw the Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin brief lawmakers on the National Recovery Plan.

The current Emergency has been in effect since January 11 and is set to end on August 1, with the Emergency (Essential Powers) (Amendment) Ordinance (EO) 2021 gazetted three days later.

Among the more controversial regulations within the EO include free reign afforded to the government to spend from the country’s coffers as they please without obtaining Parliament’s approval.

Also included within the EO are provisions allowing individuals to be compounded up to RM10,000 for breaching movement control order regulations, and also the hard stance and potential RM500,000 fine liable against those found guilty of circulating unverified information or “fake news”.