“We don’t know how an emergency stops us from movement.
“Now, even without emergency the government has enough powers to curb the transmission of Covid-19,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after officiating herbee, a Human Life Advancement Foundation and a one-stop centre to sell and buy herbal products, in Putrajaya.
Mahathir added that Malaysians generally followed instructions given by the government, unlike Europeans or Americans who make known their objections to government rulings.
Here, he said if Malaysians were asked to stay at home, they would obey. Mahathir added there could be a minority who may not follow the instructions but there were laws to deal with them.
He was asked on the impact of the government’s decision to declare an emergency nationwide due to the Covid-19 crisis.
The former prime minister added that the public were not aware of their dos and don’ts of the emergency.
“Can we ask (the government questions) or there are no parliamentary sessions. All laws will be made through a decree.
“What can the emergency do that the present measures cannot?” he asked.
He said this was because the government could take every measure needed to curb Covid-19.
“We wait for government’s explanation (on the reasons for emergency).
He was also asked if Perikatan Nasional had the majority in the Dewan Rakyat after Machang Umno MP Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub withdrew his support for Perikatan Nasional.
Mahathir said the present government may not have the majority. “If we have a parliament (sitting), it (the government) may not have enough support,” adding that it is not known if the government could rule by decree, without debates.
Asked if general elections should not be held as the Sabah state polls recorded a surge in infections, Mahathir said there was a possibility that the virus infect up to 50% of Malaysians if GE15 was held.
“But if we prioritise politics, if we want elections, we are playing with people’s lives.”
The pro tem Pejuang chairman, when asked if he would contest if polls were held, replied in jest: “I am a 95-year-old. Can’t walk as before. Don’t tell me I have to stand again. ‘
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