BALIK PULAU – The Yang di-Pertuan Agong needs to liaise with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin before Parliament can reconvene as part of the due process necessary under a state of emergency.
Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon said this at a press conference here today on whether Parliament can be reconvened through online platforms.
He was also asked about the opposition’s committee to halt the emergency and reconvene Parliament, led by Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad.
“The king has the right to see any individuals with regard to the state of emergency but as far as due process is concerned, any decision to be made must be done after consultation with the government of the day’s leader, who is the prime minister.”
The Committee for the Secession for the Emergency Proclamation had on Tuesday submitted a memorandum calling for an audience with the king, which was granted on Thursday.
Rashid said that, for the king, meeting the ministers and reconvening Parliament are two separate matters.
“So, it is best to respect the current state of emergency and wait until August to deliberate on the issue,” said Rashid.
The Batu Pahat MP said this after the launch of construction for the Al-Itqan school building in Teluk Kumbar by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow here today.
The building will be constructed by the Ideal Property Group as part of conditions imposed by the state on companies to erect social amenities within their housing projects.
Meanwhile, Penang PKR chairman Muhammed Bakhtiar Wan Chik said Parliament needed to be convened simply because MPs need to pose questions to the present government.
“It is not just about voting out the present government, whose members are simply scared about facing such a prospect,” said Bakhtiar, who is also Balik Pulau MP.
He said the Perikatan Nasional government must realise the consequences of prolonging the emergency, which has spooked investors and tourists.
Furthermore, the emergency does not appear to be curbing the pandemic, as cases are continuing to soar. – The Vibes, April 24, 2021
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