KUALA LUMPUR – The Yang di-Pertuan Agong did not set a date for the reconvening of Parliament in the statement issued by Istana Negara yesterday, said the law minister, adding that the prime minister had suggested for a sitting in September or October in his recovery plan.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s plan is in line with the Agong’s decree.
In an interview with his party organ Harakahdaily, he said: “The Agong said in his decree that Parliament must reconvene as soon as possible; he did not decree that it be done in a specific month.
“The prime minister also said September or October (for Parliament to reconvene). Now, we are close to the end of June. After this, July, August, September... it is close.”
He added that the MPs should heed the Agong’s decree and focus on discussing issues related to the pandemic.
“The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has said to discuss Covid-19 issues, so we must focus on Covid-19. The government is ready to accept views and suggestions, even from the opposition.
“Tuanku did not order (the discussion of) other matters.”
While he did not mention specifics, it is believed that Takiyuddin is referring to the no-confidence motions submitted to the Dewan Rakyat last year.
He said that the government needs to study in detail the implementation and costs of a hybrid Parliament sitting.
Following high-level meetings with state rulers, top civil servants and party heads, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had yesterday said the reconvening of Parliament must be done as soon as possible.
In a statement from the palace yesterday, the king said this will allow lawmakers to debate emergency ordinances and the National Recovery Plan.
The king also expressed hope that the Covid-19 curve will be flattened soon and the national immunisation programme will be the exit strategy to curb the pandemic.
The statement issued by Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin read that the king is highly aware of the role of Parliament as an important platform for the people’s representatives to discuss various issues, especially Covid-19.
“The members of the Dewan Rakyat can discuss the allocation of the government to help people who are facing difficulties and restore the country’s economy.”
The statement comes after a special Conference of Rulers meeting, which discussed the Covid-19 situation plaguing the country, at Istana Negara yesterday.
The Conference of Rulers was of the opinion that the state of emergency should not be extended beyond August 1.
Istana Negara had also, in a statement yesterday, said this was among the issues on which the rulers agreed.
The statement issued by the Keeper of the Ruler’s Seal Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad also stated that the rulers said the rising political “temperature” must be cooled.
“It is important that a government is stable, and has the confidence and support from the majority of the people.” – The Vibes, June 17, 2021
