Resign! Anwar leads call for PM to step down after Agong’s rebuke

KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has led the call to demand Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Law Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan to resign, following the royal reprimand on the retroactive revocation of the emergency ordinance.

The PKR president read the statement in full at the Dewan Rakyat session today, before he called out both ministers for confusing the lower House, its members and the public.

“This shows that the cabinet led by Muhyiddin went against the constitution, insulted the royal institution, insulted the constitution, confused the Dewan Rakyat, did not speak the truth, and confused the people of Malaysia.

“We have no choice, but to demand the prime minister step down and resign!” he said, with echoing cries from lawmakers.

After Anwar finished reading the statement, Khalid Abdul Samad (Shah Alam-PH) said: “You liars! Resign! Where is Takiyuddin?”

Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat-BN) tried to calm the lawmaker, but to no avail.

Instead, he said His Majesty’s wishes that were expressed by Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin is “merely a media statement”.

This was immediately rebutted by an outraged Anwar, who said the “media statement” is issued by Istana Negara, and that the deputy speaker should not disrespect or take the mickey out of the monarch.

Gobind Singh Deo (Puchong-PH) then took charge and demanded that Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun be called in, seeing that there is now speculation that he may be protecting the two ministers.

“If the speaker cannot bring this matter up, then the speaker must resign!” he said.

Cha Kee Chin (Rasah-PH) took a more direct swipe at Azhar, claiming that he is protecting the interest of his older brother, Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun.

There were then calls for the session to have a recess, which Rashid tried to ignore at first.

Surprisingly, Umno backbenchers Tan Sri Noh Omar (Tg Karang-BN) and Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (Kinabatangan-BN) took the opposition’s side, pressing the deputy speaker to at least allow for a recess.

Rashid finally relented and called for a 15-minute recess so he may discuss the latest development from Istana Negara.

After the recess, he ruled that the House will reconvene at 2.30pm.

While the ruckus happened in the lower House, Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (Beruas-PH) voiced his frustration towards the speaker for not bringing forward his motion to the sitting, at a press conference there.

“I feel that the speaker should bring forward my motion on the emergency and its ordinances, which dismisses his decision to deny four of my motions related to the declaration of emergency and three motions related to its ordinances.

“The king has today said Takiyuddin’s revelation is not true, and that the ordinances are still in effect.”

Ngeh said it is crystal clear that the ruler decreed to the law minister and Idrus that the emergency ordinances should be debated before they are either annulled or revoked.

“Therefore, I plead to the speaker to bring forward my motions to the Dewan Rakyat. Following the decree from the king, I hope my motions will be tabled immediately.” – The Vibes, July 29, 2021