Deputy Agong Sultan Nazrin should look to his Masters, PhD in public administration to guide the Agong: Malaysia's COVID deaths suggests a state of emergency is not justified, Malaysia's health system seems to be coping well

 by Ganesh Sahathevan

 HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS
SULTAN NAZRIN MUIZZUDDIN SHAH

The Star and others are reporting that a state of emergency is about to be declared in Malaysia. The rising rate of COVID infections is said to be the reason for the declaration.

The Agong may declare an Emergency pursuant to Article 150 of the Malaysian Constitution when His Majesty is satisfied, as advised by his Cabinet, that a  grave emergency exists whereby the security, or the economic life, or public order in the Federation or any part thereof is threatened,

The rate  of deaths per day  in Malaysia due to COVID infection is approaching the peak of approximately 8 per day in late March this year, even if the rate of infection per day has spiked to approximately 1000, which is significantly higher than the average over the past 6 months. 

Meanwhile, Malaysia's health system seem to be coping; there are not reports of the country's hospitals being overwhelmed. 

The answer then as to whether a state of emergency ought to be declared is a matter of fact rather than law. In that regard The Agong has the advantage of having as his deputy Sultan Nazrin of Perak who holds Masters and PhD level qualifications in public administration.

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