Dewan Rakyat, Senate speakers urge PM to convene Parliament before Aug 1
- UPDATED 3PM: Included joint statement by Dewan Rakyat Speaker and Dewan Negara President.
Following their audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong yesterday, the speakers of Parliament’s upper and lower houses have called for a sitting to be held before the emergency ends.
In a joint statement this afternoon, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun and Dewan Negara President Rais Yatim directed their call at Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin...
- UPDATED 3PM: Included joint statement by Dewan Rakyat Speaker and Dewan Negara President.
Following their audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong yesterday, the speakers of Parliament’s upper and lower houses have called for a sitting to be held before the emergency ends.
In a joint statement this afternoon, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun and Dewan Negara President Rais Yatim directed their call at Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
“Both the speakers of the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat along with their deputies uphold the Agong’s decree and have expressed the Malaysian Parliament’s full commitment and preparedness to hold a Parliament sitting as decreed by His Majesty.
“What the Agong decreed during the meeting has been informed to the prime minister. It was proposed to the prime minister that a special sitting be held before Aug 1 in line with existing legal provisions,” they said.
Yesterday, the Agong once again urged for Parliament to convene as soon as possible.
However, Putrajaya has thus far indicated that it intends to reconvene Parliament in September or October.
The ongoing emergency is set to expire on Aug 1.
Parliament has been suspended since Jan 11 when the emergency was proclaimed.
According to Attorney-General Idrus Harun, it is up to the cabinet to advise the Agong on when His Majesty can convene Parliament.
Legal experts previously told Malaysiakini that it would be pointless for Parliament to debate the emergency proclamation and ordinances after the emergency expires.
Respect decree
Rais earlier told Utusan Online that he will attempt to convince Muhyiddin to hold a special Parliament session before Aug 1.
“During the audience (with the Agong), His Majesty expressed his wish for a special sitting of Parliament to be held in August,” he was quoted as saying.
The Agong’s wish, he said, will be brought to the leader of the house to fix a date for the special sitting on Covid-19.
“The date of the special parliamentary sitting will be scheduled by the prime minister. Maybe in two days or five days. Then a regular sitting will be held by the end of August,” added Rais.
He said a meeting would be held with the prime minister to set a date for the special sitting, adding that the Agong stressed that it should not be held later than expected.
“The audience was held on the basis of his majesty’s initiative to obtain information and the latest status on Covid-19 in the Malaysian Parliament and the preparation for the upcoming sitting.
“It is possible in August so that the commitment of Parliament is not wasted and the democratic authority is empowered to discuss Covid-19-related issues,” explained the senator.
Comptroller of the Royal Household Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin previously announced that the Agong wishes to see the emergency proclamation and emergency ordinances debated in accordance with Article 150(3) of the Federal Constitution.
This article stipulated that both the proclamation and ordinances can be annulled if Parliament so chooses.
Muhyiddin, who was expected to chair a weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday, has been hospitalised after suffering from diarrhoea since yesterday.
Meanwhile, Rais said they proposed that the special Parliament session be held in person.
“We have informed (the ruler) that the first session must be held physically instead of a hybrid session due to the constraints of the parliamentary Standing Order and laws. However, we advised the Agong from the aspect of the rules.
“The leader of the house (Muhyiddin) must act to make the session a reality,” he said.
They also proposed that the special parliamentary sitting be held for five days while the regular sitting will be held at the end of August after a 28-day notice is issued, he said.
“We must remember that the king is also the symbolic head of the Parliament and the prime minister is the leader of the House and must advise the speaker to hold the sitting.
“With the ruler’s decree, the prime minister needs to give due respect and provide an appropriate explanation.
“So far, we have conveyed this to the Prime Minister’s Office. There are two choices - either (to inform us) on the sitting date via a letter or hold a sitting with relevant parties to determine (the date),” he said.
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