It is somewhat perplexing that the Government of Malaysia (GoM) has yet to call for the Proclamation of Emergency in Pasir Gudang following the chemical dumping incident in the Johor district.
The Federal Constitution of Malaysia provides that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may issue a Proclamation of Emergency and make a declaration to that effect if he is satisfied a grave emergency exists whereby the security, economic life or public order in the Federation or any part thereof is threatened.
SUBANG JAYA: It is somewhat perplexing that the Government of Malaysia (GoM) has yet to call for the Proclamation of Emergency in Pasir Gudang following the chemical dumping incident in the Johor district.
According to a report by the Malay Mail Online, as of today, the incident has forced the closure of all 111 schools in the area and made 506 people sick, 166 of whom were reportedly admitted into hospital, with nine of them critical.
The Federal Constitution of Malaysia provides that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may issue a Proclamation of Emergency and make a declaration to that effect if he is satisfied a grave emergency exists whereby the security, economic life or public order in the Federation or any part thereof is threatened.
On the 11th of August 2005, two years into the Abdullah administration, the Agong issued a Proclamation of Emergency for Port Klang and the district of Kuala Selangor after air pollution in the area registered values greater than 500 on the Air Pollution Index.
Then, on the 23rd of June 2013, Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak declared a state of emergency for Muar and Ledang in Johor as smoke from land-clearing fires in Indonesia pushed the air pollution index above 750.
Earlier today, common sense prevailed as Pasir Gudang Member of Parliament (MP) Hassan Abdul Karim appealed to the Dewan Rakyat to do away with “technical red-tape” and allow an emergency motion to be tabled immediately.
However, instead of agreeing, Climate Change and Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin responded by saying that the suggestion would be put to the Johor disaster management committee by her as the decision was not hers alone.
Yeo’s response was typical of ministers who face problems prioritising their responsibilities or lack the common sense to understand what they were elected to do or even what to do when circumstances are out of the ordinary.
While it could be the lay of the land in states to seek resolutions from committees, Yeo belongs to the federal and not the state and should therefore be focused on pressuring the Prime Minister to seek a Proclamation of Emergency instead.
Doing so would empower the Government of Malaysia (GoM) to perform actions it isn’t normally permitted to perform so that all concerned can act swiftly and prevent more people from calling into hospitals sick.
It’s about time our ministers from Pakatan wise up.
THE THIRD FORCE
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