KUALA LUMPUR – Have the Malay rulers thumbed their noses at Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s state of emergency?
The fact that the Pahang sultan, who is the present Agong, has consented to the reconvening of the Pahang assembly could be an indication of His Majesty’s position with regard to the suspension of the legislative arms of the country.
The consent, say observers, appears to be a pre-emptive strike at attempts to extend the current emergency, which is supposed to end on August 1.
“Moreover, it could open the door for the other sultans to also commence the reconvening of their respective state assemblies,” said a source.
On May 25, the Pahang assembly had issued a letter to 31 of its assemblymen and its 10 executive councillors, saying that the assembly will convene from August 16 to 20.
While the letter, which was signed by assembly secretary Syed Ahmad Khirulanwar Alyahya Syed Abdul Rahman, stated that the assembly will convene on the condition that the emergency is not extended, it is viewed by observers that this is a subtle indication by the Agong of His Majesty’s position on the country’s current state of affairs.
“With respect to the matter above, I have been instructed to inform that the meeting (first meeting, fourth term of the 14th Pahang assembly) will be scheduled on August 16 to August 20 (Monday to Friday), depending on the end of the emergency on August 1, 2021,” said the letter.
Following the first letter, the state secretary’s office had issued another letter requesting its 31 assemblymen to file their respective questions to the Pahang Assembly Enquiry System by June 16.
“Seeing that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is also the rightful ruler of Pahang, one cannot help but wonder if these letters signed by state government officials signal that he will not extend the current emergency,” said an observer close to the state administration.
Article 150(1) of the federal constitution states: “If the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is satisfied that a grave emergency exists whereby the security, or the economic life, or public order in the federation or any part thereof is threatened, he may issue a proclamation of emergency, making therein a declaration to that effect.”
On the flip side, if Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah is not satisfied that there is a need for an emergency, His Majesty may utilise his wisdom and make the decision not to extend the current emergency.
It is understood that the Agong had earlier written to Muhyiddin requesting a review of the emergency and to bring it to an end, albeit with strict standard operating procedures in place to address the pandemic.
“His Majesty’s wishes were politely declined,” said a source.
With the emergency’s end, the Dewan Rakyat and the various state assemblies can convene, even though the emergency ordinance will last another six months.
“The fact that Pahang’s assembly is sending out letters to convene its meeting might also inspire the king’s brother-rulers to initiate a similar move in their respective states and call upon their respective state assemblies to sit,” the source said.
Several assemblymen contacted by The Vibes have confirmed receiving the letters.
Ending the emergency – ending PN’s rule?
It is known that the main reason the prime minister’s backdoor Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration is still surviving amid this turmoil is due to the official emergency situation that began on January 12, which is presently scheduled to end on August 1.
To add salt to Muhyiddin’s wound, Umno, which commands 38 MPs out of PN’s 115 federal lawmakers, has already announced its plan on pulling out of the ruling coalition come August.
Without their support in Parliament, Muhyiddin will have lost his majority.
The past few days have seen political party leaders visiting Istana Negara after they were summoned by the king to discuss the adversity faced by Malaysians stemming from the failure of PN in handling the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting economic freefall.
It was rather telling that nearly all the opposition party leaders had spoken to pressmen on stakeout at the palace’s Gate 2, while the only ruling party leader who spoke to the media was Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The veteran Umno lawmaker had said to the king that his party wants an end to the emergency and reconvene Parliament – sentiments shared by Pakatan Harapan leaders.
Various leaders ranging from politicians, academics, business groups, non-governmental organisations and individual members of the public had also voiced their anger over how the various movement control orders (MCOs) and lockdowns by Putrajaya have affected their lives and livelihoods.
On top of that, despite the declaration of emergency, Covid-19 cases have continued to spike with the death toll rising daily until the government implemented a “full nationwide lockdown”.
Among the reasons for the people’s outrage is also the perceived special treatment that top members of the political administration and certain celebrities have enjoyed, getting away scot-free or with a mere slap on their wrists for various MCO-related offences, while average Malaysians receive the full brunt of the law. – The Vibes, June 12, 2021
