KUALA LUMPUR – The “refusal” to reconvene Parliament amounts to an “abuse of power” by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in the face of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Malay rulers’ call for a sitting at the soonest possible time.
“There is no reasonable justification for refusing to convene Parliament forthwith. The excuse for wanting to delay it until September is equally unacceptable,” said the Pakatan Harapan law committee in a statement.
“This is because all 220 MPs and Parliament staff have completed their vaccination. There is no more danger of Covid-19 infection in a Parliament sitting.
“The cabinet, by refusing to convene Parliament, is preventing Parliament from carrying out its proper functions to discuss government expenditure relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, economic recovery programmes and the vaccination process.”
The committee said the cabinet’s refusal to let Parliament sit undermines this principle of parliamentary accountability.
“The prime minister and cabinet are accountable and subject to scrutiny by the representatives of the electorate. The executive is required to report, explain and defend its actions in Parliament, and citizens are protected from the arbitrary exercise of executive power in this manner.
“At the same time, the Agong is constitutionally part of the institution of Parliament together with the two houses of Parliament, and is duty-bound to protect the role of Parliament.
“We urge the Agong, in exercising his discretionary powers under Article 43 of the federal constitution, to verify if the recalcitrance and defiance exhibited by the prime minister is, in fact, supported by a majority of MPs.
“In the event it is found to not be supported by a majority of the Dewan Rakyat, it is a clear demonstration that the prime minister no longer enjoys the confidence of the majority, and the Agong should proceed to exercise his discretionary powers to demand the resignation of the prime minister.”
The statement was issued by PH law committee members, comprising William Leong (Selayang MP), Mohamed Hanipa Maidin (Sepang), Ramkarpal Singh (Bukit Gelugor), Sivarasa Rasiah (Sg Buloh) and Muhammad Faiz Fadzil (Permatang Pasir), as well as Fadhlina Sidek and Zulqarnain Lukman.
Following high-level meetings with the Malay rulers, top civil servants and party heads, Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah on June 16 said Parliament must sit as soon as possible.
In a statement from Istana Negara, the king said this will allow lawmakers to debate emergency ordinances and the National Recovery Plan.
He also expressed hope that the Covid-19 curve will be flattened soon and the national immunisation programme will be the exit strategy to end the health crisis.
A statement issued by Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin on the same day said the Agong is highly aware of Parliament’s role as an important platform for the people’s representatives to discuss various issues, especially Covid-19 at this point in time.
“The members of the Dewan Rakyat can discuss the government’s allocation to help people who are facing difficulties and restore the country’s economy.”
The Conference of Rulers is of the opinion that the emergency declared over the pandemic should not be extended beyond August 1.
Istana Negara, in a statement, said this is among the issues on which the rulers agreed, and that they believe the rising political “temperature” must be brought down.
“It is important that a government is stable, and has the confidence and support of the majority of the people.” – The Vibes, June 20, 2021
