12 January 2021

Press Statement by MCA Secretary-General Datuk Chong Sin Woon

MCA backs Agong's proclamation of emergency to contain Covid-19 and pause politicking

MCA pledges our full support to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah proclaiming a state of emergency as a proactive measure to unite both sides of the political gap and the people to counter the threat of Covid-19.

We believe that His Majesty and the Cabinet of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has made the right decision, allowing our medical frontliners to focus one-hundred per cent on containing the pandemic and safeguard public health.

The Covid-19 situation in Malaysia has persistently deteriorated over the past three months. With daily numbers in the four-digit spectrum, our public healthcare system has been pushed to the point of breaking. 

Despite that, multiple manoeuvrings to pressure for snap polls, attempts to derail the passing of Budget 2021, and political incitements have resulted in instability within the federal government and some state governments, hindering a concerted effort to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The declaration of emergency based on Clause (1) Article 150 of the Federal Constitution intends to unite Malaysians into winning the pandemic fight and ending the political unrest orchestrated by power-hungry individuals. 

MCA wants to emphasise that the proclamation of emergency does not, in any way, place Malaysia under military rule, or function as a coup — it merely pauses all political games that undermine pandemic containment efforts until 1 August 2021, or earlier if the daily Covid-19 can be effectively controlled or lowered.