COMMENT | Emergency puts democracy into an induced coma A - COMMENT | Emergency may mean different things to different people but one thing is certain - a nation under an 'emergency' requires emergency attention, just like a sick or injured person requires exigent medical aid. Malaysia is under an emergency but many think not for the reason given by the government. The Perikatan Nasional (PN) Emergency, spelt with a capital 'E', is only a pretext, they claim. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is afraid to meet his Waterloo if snap polls happen now, the critics argue. After all, no other country in the world with more serious Covid-19 cases have suspended their parliament. The effect is to put democracy in a coma.