PROCLAMATION OF EMERGENCY STILL RELEVANT FOR COUNTRY'S SECURITY

KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Bernama) -- The government has not abolished the Proclamation of Emergency because it is still relevant and has to be maintained for use to safeguard the country's security, public order and eliminate crime.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Liew Vui Keong said the Proclamation of Emergency could be issued by the Supreme King as provided under Article 150(1) of the Federal Constitution by reason of the existence of grave emergency threatening the country's security, economic life and public order.

"The government views that the Emergency Ordinance is necessary to
strengthen efforts towards maintaining peace and public order," he said in response to a question by Senator Dr S. Ramakrishnan in the Senate Tuesday.

He said that since the country's independence, four Proclamations of Emergency had been issued - on Sept 3, 1964 and May 15, 1969 for the whole of the federation, on Sept 14, 1969 in Sarawak and on Nov 8, 1977 in Kelantan.

Liew said there were also countries which had formulated similar laws made under the Proclamation of Emergency 1969, like the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 in the United Kingdom and the US Patriot Act of 2001 in the United States of America.

Dr Ramakrishnan wanted to know why the government had not abolished the Proclamation of Emergency which was formulated more than 40 years ago.