On Jan. 12, Malaysia was placed under a state of emergency. The stated aim of this
extraordinary measure is to tackle the surging COVID-19 pandemic, as it empowers
the government to focus on tackling the scourge unhindered.
At first blush, the reasoning is irreproachable. The day the emergency was declared,
Malaysia reported 3,309 new cases, breaking a record for the highest daily tally. The
number of new reported cases daily has on the rise since September 2020.
However, many politicians and civil society groups have argued that the emergency is
unnecessary, as the government has many measures at its disposal. The existing
powers provided under the prevailing Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases