KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has promised that Parliament will reconvene in September or October this year under Phase 3 of the National Recovery Plan, as long as it follows strict standard operating procedures (SOPs).
He said that, once the country has achieved herd immunity, the country’s parliamentary democracy system can begin functioning once again.
“I give my commitment that parliamentary proceedings can be held in this phase (Phase 3 of the National Recovery Plan) around September or October, where it will follow strict SOPs.
“This is my stance from the start: that the parliamentary democracy system can function at the right time, which is when Covid-19 cases are under control and we have nearly reached herd immunity.
“I will hold to the principles of parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. There should not be any parties who are willingly raising anxiety and confusion among the public until it disrupts the government’s duty of handling the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Muhyiddin.
The National Recovery Plan comprises four phases and involves transitions in the movement control orders (MCO) after certain thresholds based on the number of infections per day as well as the number of available intensive care unit (ICU) beds.
Last week, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had granted audiences to various political party leaders to discuss the Covid-19 pandemic and its resulting economic freefall.
So far, he has met with 18 political leaders, including Muhyiddin, opposition head Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and leaders of major political parties, such as Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, Lim Guan Eng and Mohamad Sabu.
Today, Sultan Abdullah met with Special Independent Emergency Committee chairman Tun Arifin Zakaria.
In an earlier statement, Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said that His Majesty will be raising the matters discussed with the politicians and Arifin during the special Conference of Rulers meeting slated for 2.30pm tomorrow. – The Vibes, June 15, 2021
