Reconvening Parliament takes time, but Sept still too late: observer

KUALA LUMPUR – There have been various interpretations bandied about on when Parliament can reconvene ever since the Yang di-Pertuan Agong decreed that the next sitting should proceed “as soon as possible”. One popular notion is that the process to reconvene the Dewan Rakyat can take a minimum of 28 days.

However, while this reading – based on the Parliament’s Standing Orders – is correct, a parliamentary observer asserted that prolonging the commencement of the next session beyond September would be too late.

Ong Ooi Heng explained that the king’s decree on June 16 requires the prime minister to act on the matter immediately.

“The Agong, having had a special meeting with the (Conference) of Rulers and saying: ‘We should reconvene parliament ASAP’ – it’s not considered an ordinary message, but a decision or instruction,” Ong told the Vibes when contacted.

This is because, under the emergency, the Agong has more powers compared with normal times.

On Tuesday, Umno’s Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim had said that the Agong’s call for a parliamentary sitting to be held requires a 28-day notice, as stipulated in the Standing Orders.

Shahidan’s statement has put him at loggerheads with party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who issued a 14-day ultimatum against Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Sunday.

Ong, who agreed with Shahidan’s remark, said the matter requires 28 days to allow preparations for Parliament to convene, as well as to allow ample time for MPs to be notified.

Moreover, he explained, the 28-day period is needed as the upcoming session would be the first of three sessions usually held in a year.

“Under normal circumstances, the prime minister – as the leader of the lower house – will decide on the date and advise the Agong on the matter,” Ong said.

“For example, if it were 2013: by December 2012, there would be a correspondence between the prime minister and king where the prime minister would set three dates (for the sessions) for 2013, and then Parliament would be informed while the speaker receives a notice. This is repeated every year for Parliament to convene, which is the normal procedure.”

Furthermore, Ong added, with the upcoming session being the first for the new parliamentary calendar year, a “special” sitting – such as the one that took place in light of the MH17 tragedy in 2014, as suggested by some quarters – is not appropriate.

He said this is because such a “special” parliamentary sitting only occurs during the interval between the first and third parliamentary sessions of the year, and not any time before.

However, once the first session has taken place, the second or third series of sittings can be brought forward by the prime minister.

Ong also said that the Agong’s decree on Parliament must be adhered to swiftly as he currently possesses bigger powers under the emergency, in line with the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 gazetted in January.

Section 14 (1)(b) of the Ordinance, on sitting of Parliament, stipulates that “the Parliament shall be summoned, prorogued, and dissolved on a date as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong thinks appropriate” for as long as the emergency is in force. –  The Vibes, June 24, 2021