KUALA LUMPUR – The speech of former finance minister Lim Guan Eng (Bagan-PH) was suddenly interrupted during the special sitting in Parliament today, when opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Port Dickson-PH) read out portions of a statement from Istana Negara.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong in the statement reprimanded Law Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan over his announcement on the emergency proclamation and its ordinances on Monday, saying it is “inaccurate” and has “misled lawmakers in the Dewan Rakyat”.
In the statement issued by Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin today, the king asserted that the application to revoke the emergency ordinances – backdated to July 21 – was “hastily made without presenting it in Parliament”, and that “the contradictory and misleading statement failed to respect the principle of the rule of law in the Rukun Negara”.
This “disregarded His Majesty’s functions and powers as the head of state, as enshrined in the federal constitution”.
Following this revelation, the assembly turned into choas, with MPs from both sides of the divide calling for the sitting to be suspended.
Some parliamentarians also called for the resignation of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Takiyuddin.
Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon proceeded to adjourn the sitting for 15 minutes to ensure MPs calm down.
Lim had earlier questioned the Perikatan Nasional administration over the potential financial implications caused by the backdated emergency ordinance revocation.
Lim, in addressing Parliament today, said the confusion surrounding the abrupt and shocking announcement by Takiyuddin that the six emergency ordinances had been revoked on July 21 is further convoluted by Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa’s claim that the repeal is only in process.
“The PN government’s backdated revocation of six emergency ordinances raises financial implications, especially regarding the RM5 billion from the National Trust Fund (KWAN) to purchase vaccines, and charge and utilise any expenditure from the federal or state governments without needing to obtain approval from Parliament,” he said, after Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz presented his briefing on the government’s aid packages earlier.
“Can the minister disclose in detail how much has been utilised from KWAN and the consolidated funds, and how the funds will be sourced now following the revocation?”
Lim said Tengku Zafrul should help resolve the confusion over the legal validity of the revocation, which has affected public and investor confidence, and whether the king has consented to it. – The Vibes, July 29, 2021
