KUALA LUMPUR – Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor has declined to be drawn into speculation over the possible dissolution of Parliament, insisting that the Dewan Rakyat will carry on as usual until an official announcement is made on the matter.
Other opinions and concerns are mere speculations, he said in response to concerns voiced by a couple of opposition lawmakers over talks of dissolution in the next couple of days.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Teresa Kok (Seputeh-PH) questioned if the lengthy deliberations and debates by MPs on multiple bills tabled in the lower House over the past week will be in vain if Parliament does get dissolved soon.
“Will all this be for nothing? If there is a new government, will all these bills be re-tabled and debated?” she asked.
R.S.N. Rayer (Jelutong-PH), meanwhile, queried if it is fair for the prime minister to seek consent for a Parliament dissolution from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong based on the demands of a few Umno MPs.
This is in reference to constant pressure from those aligned with Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Bagan Datuk-BN) for Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Bera-BN) to dissolve Parliament and call the general election before the end of the year.
“My question is, do you think certain MPs are pressuring the prime minister to hold an audience with the Agong this evening to suggest the dissolution?” Rayer questioned.
“Can you confirm this? Is this fair, seeing it is based only on the pressure of a few leaders? Is it true the minister doesn’t care about the floods, and that his audience today is specifically meant to ask for a dissolution?”
Ramli responded by saying that such questions are speculative, and that nothing is certain.
“Let us not speculate. Let us proceed with what we are supposed to do in this Dewan until the right time and moment comes.”
Ismail Sabri is expected to meet the Agong this evening, as speculation mounts over the date of the dissolution and general election. – The Vibes, October 6, 2022
