KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah has no plans to challenge the Emergency proclamation in court but has written their views to the King, says Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
The party president said that the letter to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah which was signed by the party's eight MPs is an appeal to withdraw the Emergency proclamation aimed at tackling the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
"We believe that the current preventive actions under the movement control order are sufficient to battle the pandemic," Shafie told reporters here after distributing assistance to water villagers at Tanjung Aru here whose homes were damaged by high waves earlier this week.
The letter appealing for the lifting of the Emergency was sent earlier this week, he said on Saturday (Jan 23) when asked if Warisan was also considering taking legal action similar to Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s statement that they were planning legal action.
Shafie said that most countries tackling the Covid-19 pandemic are using similar restrictive movements like the MCO.
"Our letter is only an appeal, we are not pressuring. We agree with the Agong's decision, we are just giving our views on the legal issues pertaining to the laws," he said.
"Our concern is that from the legal aspect of the Constitution an Emergency is allowed for the security of the nation. There is no doubt there is serious concern over public health with the pandemic.
"But we feel there was no need for an emergency at this time," he added.
On Wednesday, Anwar said that a majority of the MPs had sent letters to the King appealing for the Emergency to be lifted.
Meanwhile, Shafie, whose party lost the state government during the Sabah elections, said the party leaders have been asked to help people affected by last week's floods that wreaked havoc in nine districts in Sabah.
"Our resources are limited but we will help as much we can," he said, adding that the party had handed food baskets, mattresses, pillows and building materials including zinc roof, planks and beams to affected families.
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