KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the prime minister must resign if he is still resistant to Parliament reconvening soon, as decreed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin should step down if he is not ready for parliamentary sittings, or is unwilling to abide by the federal constitution and the king’s advice on the matter, said Anwar.
He said Muhyiddin’s government is not legitimate, and has lost the confidence of the people.
“If you refuse, then, to honourably save the country and the economy, and to allow the Covid-19 handling to be planned and implemented (by others), it is better that you relinquish your post,” the PKR president told his Bersatu counterpart.
“This is Pakatan Harapan’s stance, which is supported by the majority of parliamentarians and the people.”
Anwar was speaking in a livestreamed session on his Facebook page this evening. During the 15-minute talk, he delved into the statements issued by the Agong and Conference of Rulers after their special meeting at Istana Negara yesterday.
Following high-level meetings with the Malay rulers, top civil servants and party heads, Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah urged for Parliament to reconvene as soon as possible, saying this will allow lawmakers to debate emergency ordinances and the National Recovery Plan.
Anwar said the king previously stated that Parliament can sit during the emergency called over Covid-19, but the Perikatan Nasional administration has ignored this and insisted otherwise.
The Port Dickson MP slammed a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department as “biadab” (insolent) for insisting that the Agong did not mention a specific date for Parliament to reopen, despite the decree for this to be done soon.
“Usually, when explaining the king’s statement, we abide by his rulings, and if we have a different opinion, we present our views to His Majesty on the situation.”
Anwar said the Agong’s statement yesterday reiterates that Parliament is an important platform for the people’s representatives to discuss issues, especially Covid-19 at this point in time.
“Any sane person would understand (the king’s statement) that Parliament should be held soon.”
The Malay rulers also noted the rising political “temperature”, and the importance of having a stable government that has the confidence and support of the majority of the people, he said.
“If the prime minister and ministers don’t understand this, I think they have to sit their SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) exams again.”
Anwar added that the rulers have indicated that there is no need to extend the emergency beyond August 1.
“They have made a clear statement. To me, the special task force on the emergency that advises the king should make an immediate decision to end the emergency now, or on August 1 at the latest.” – The Vibes, June 17, 2021
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