A state of emergency allows a government to take more extreme measures in order to manage a situation such as natural disasters, civil unrest or a disease outbreak. In democracies, these powers are usually limited, however in dictatorial regimes they can be used to justify suppressing human rights and overriding constitutional law.
The President can declare a state of emergency for no longer than 90 days if he or she feels that the security of the country, the safety of citizens or public order is threatened. This can apply to the whole country or just a specific area. The President can also impose a state of siege which limits freedom of movement, prohibits assembling in public places and requires the police to carry out searches without a warrant.
This has been a common tool during the Konfrontasi in 1962, the 1966 Sarawak constitutional crisis and the 1977 Kelantan Emergency. A state of emergency was also declared in the aftermath of severe haze in 2005.
Under the Stafford Act, the Governor of the affected State can request a presidential declaration of a major disaster or emergency. This triggers a series of federal programs designed to aid the response and recovery efforts. States are required to certify that they will not impose additional requirements on their local governments or private entities in addition to the requirements under the Stafford Act and that they will comply with cost-sharing obligations. State governments should be clear about what their requirements are and communicate to all stakeholders the implications of a federal declaration of emergency.