[UPDATED] Parliament will reconvene before Aug: Takiyuddin

KUALA LUMPUR – After constant pressure from various quarters, the government has finally agreed to reconvene Parliament before the end of the month.

In a brief statement today, law minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the matter was decided by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

“The government always respects the view of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in all matters relating to the administration of the country, including on parliamentary sittings.

“As such, the prime minister, as the head of the parliamentary council, has decided to call for a sitting as soon as possible before August 1.

“This matter will be finalised in the cabinet meeting on July 7,” he said.

The Agong had on June 29 reiterated his stand for Parliament to reconvene as soon as possible to discuss the emergency and pandemic, as well as ensure check and balance.

This came after he granted audience to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun and Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Rais Yatim, as well as their deputies, to discuss the reconvening of the august House.

This makes the third time the king has urged for an immediate sitting, after making similar calls in February and earlier last month.

Previously, His Majesty had summoned leaders of major political parties and top civil servants in the country for meets that took place between June 9 and 14 to obtain their views on the current health and economic crisis.

It was then followed by a special conference of rulers meet on June 16, which was also attended by top government officials, where the Agong raised issues brought to him by the political leaders.

Just a day prior, on June 15, Muhyiddin had said the lower House will reconvene in September or October if daily Covid-19 cases fall below 2,000.

Takiyuddin’s statement today comes just moments after the Pakatan Harapan presidential council said its MPs will be descending on Parliament on July 19 if no announcement on its immediate reconvening is made by Monday.

The coalition had also urged government MPs who support the Agong’s decree for an immediate sitting and who respect the spirit of the federal constitution and parliamentary democracy to join it.

It said the gathering will take place if Muhyiddin does not make an announcement on the reconvening by Monday.

The emergency, which was enforced on January 11 and is scheduled to end on August 1, was supposedly to assist the government in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.

The proclamation also suspends parliamentary sittings and provided the government with unfettered powers through the promulgation of ordinances.

However, with cases continuing to spike during this period, many quarters have described the emergency as a failure and have demanded that Parliament be allowed to reconvene. – The Vibes, July 2, 2021