Kuala Lampur, Sept. 18 -- The Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 1969 (No. 10) (Emergency Ordinance 10) was one of the many Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinances in 1969 alone that was promulgated by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong under Article 150 (2) of the Federal Constitution following the Proclamation of Emergency in that year.

The background to Emergency Ordinance 10 was explained by V K Moorthy as follows:

"By the late sixties the prospects of oil discovery became a real probability and the Federal Government was seriously considering the possibility of greater centralised Federal control over the petroleum industry. This was in order to implement a well co-ordinated national development of the nation.

"The constitutional and l...