KUALA LUMPUR – The Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration must explain why the Special Independent Emergency Committee (SIEC) was formed following Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan’s recent statement.
PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said in a statement that Section 2 of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 that came into force on January 14 provided for the establishment of an independent emergency committee.
“With this, the government has made an exception for this committee to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the state of emergency while under normal circumstances this role falls to the cabinet.
“This committee has a clear and specific responsibility which is to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the continued existence of an emergency or its termination.
“Until now, this committee still exists and functions to carry out its duties with the ultimate goal of presenting a report to His Majesty.”
After Takiyuddin’s statement, Saifuddin now questions the committee’s function since the advisory on emergency is taken over by cabinet.
“Does this mean that even when an emergency is under the Emergency Ordinance 2021, the power of the cabinet to advise the Agong according to the Federal Constitution is considered applicable including in matters of ending or extending the emergency period?
“If that is true, what is the need for this independent committee?
“As a member of the committee appointed by the Agong, I would like to request that Takiyuddin provide an explanation. This will help me to make a decision regarding my position and role in this committee.”
He added that it is understood that the role or duty of advising the Agong is allocated to the cabinet in accordance with Article 40 (1) of the federal constitution but the prime minister on January 12 announced a state of emergency in force in our country.
Similarly, fellow committee member and Tg Karang MP Datuk Seri Noh Omar said Takiyuddin’s announcement was insulting as it questions why the committee was set up and appointed in the first place, only for their primary role to be denied at this juncture.
“Did the minister refer to the prime minister’s statement on the role of the Special Independent Emergency Committee?
“I ask the minister to explain what the role of this committee is. Why do PN ministers like to make contradictory statements and flip-flops that can confuse the people?” he posted on his Facebook page today.
Yesterday, Bernama reported that Takiyuddin said it was the constitutional responsibility of the government to continue advising the Agong on matters pertaining to the emergency.
He added that this is in line with the cabinet’s responsibility and core policies to focus on measures to effectively prevent the spread of Covid-19.
It is understood that Takiyuddin was responding to Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah’s statement to the media that, should there be a revocation of emergency, there would be no reason to delay already postponed polls even further.
Dr Noor Hisham added that whether the emergency is extended, it would be up to the Agong to decide.
Earlier, lawyers told The Vibes that Takiyuddin is correct to say that the cabinet has a constitutional duty to advise the Agong on whether or not the current state of emergency is to be extended.
However, they also took the minister to task, questioning the point of forming the committee in the first place. – The Vibes, June 13, 2021
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