KUALA LUMPUR – Ten days after the proclamation of emergency took effect, which requires the setting up of a special independent committee to advise the king, Pakatan Harapan has finally submitted the names of three MPs for the panel.
They are PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Kulim-Bandar Baharu), DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke (Seremban) and Amanah strategy director Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor).
All three were ministers in the previous PH administration, with Saifuddin Nasution holding the domestic trade and consumer affairs portfolio, Loke (transport) and Dr Dzulkefly (health).
In a statement, the PH secretariat council said the names were submitted to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan today.
The committee, whose establishment was decreed by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, will give advice and recommendations to him with regard to the emergency order.
“The opposition’s participation in this independent committee does not change our stand that the excuses given by the prime minister on the need for an emergency are unacceptable,” said the PH council.
“We, together with the majority of MPs, remain with our stance that the emergency must be rescinded and Parliament needs to convene immediately.”
Istana Negara, on January 12, said the Agong has consented to a nationwide emergency until August 1 to address the country’s worsening Covid-19 situation, following advice from Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Muhyiddin later announced that Parliament and state assemblies will not sit for the duration of the emergency, and elections will not be held.
On Saturday, Takiyuddin said the opposition had yet to propose any names for inclusion in the special committee, despite a letter having been sent to the bloc’s chief, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In an online press conference yesterday, Anwar said the delay was to allow PH more time to gather information on the committee’s terms of reference and composition.
He said the names had been finalised and would be submitted immediately. – The Vibes, January 21, 2021
