Rulers: No need to extend emergency beyond Aug 1

The Conference of Rulers unanimously believes that there is no need for the state of emergency to be extended beyond Aug 1.

The Malay rulers also expressed support for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's views that Parliament should reconvene immediately.

They believe state legislatures in their respective states should also convene as soon as possible.

"The rulers are of the position that it is important to respect mechanisms of check-and-balance between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches to ensure a transparent administration that has integrity and is accountable to the people; especially in matters of finance and government expenditure.

"In that spirit, the rulers support and concur with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's decree that Parliament should convene immediately.

"At the state level, the rulers are also of the position that state legislatures should convene as soon as possible.

"The methods and procedures used to hold proceedings in several countries are proven to contain the spread of Covid-19 and should be introduced in this country," said Keeper of the Rulers Seal Syed Danial Syed Ahmad.

This followed a Council of Rulers meeting at Istana Negara earlier today to discuss Malaysia's Covid-19 situation.

Other matters agreed upon by the rulers are as follows:

1. The life and livelihood of the people should be prioritised above all else.
2. The vaccination programme should to improved by reducing bureaucracy to achieve herd immunity as soon as possible.
3. Efforts to contain Covid-19 should be understood and receive the people's support without any doubt or perception of a hidden political agenda.
4. Efforts to contain Covid-19 should be inclusive, involving various stakeholders with a willingness to listen, learn, change, improve, and chart new territory until it succeeds in winning over the full cooperation of the people.
5. The "political temperature" is becoming warmer and should be deescalated.

Syed Danial said the rulers were of the position that the check and balance mechanism between the executive, legislature and judiciary should be respected, particularly on the country’s finances.

The government had in March used its emergency powers to grant itself the ability to tap into the consolidated fund and approve supplementary budgets without going through Parliament.

Syed Danial added that the rulers also believe they have a duty to curb any abuse of power.

“It is the duty of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the state rulers to balance the various demands to ensure there is justice and curb the real possibility or perception of abuse of power,” he said.

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