Under Pressure, Government Finally Says Parliament To Convene Before August
It will be finalised during the Wednesday, 7th July Cabinet meeting.
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Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan announced that Parliament will reconvene before the Emergency Ordinance period expires on 1 August 2021.
This is because Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has decided to call for a Parliamentary sitting as soon as possible, which will be finalised during the Wednesday, 7 July Cabinet meeting.
Recently, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, during a meeting with the Speakers of both the Lower and Upper Houses of Parliament, had conveyed his wish that the Parliament sit before 1 August.
Takiyuddin said the Federal Government constantly upholds the views of the Agong in all matters related to the country’s administration, including those related to parliamentary proceedings.
According to Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun the cabinet’s role is to advise the Agong on when His Majesty can convene Parliament.
Putrajaya under pressure
Previously the Prime Minister said Parliament would reconvene by September at the earliest, when the Covid-19 outbreak eases. But he has come under increasing pressure to call for a sitting following the Agong’s comments.
Although Parliament is supposed to be recalled within six months of its last sitting in December, this constitutional provision is suspended during the current state of emergency, which was announced by the Agong on 11 January.
This announcement comes as Muhyiddin faces growing pressure to bring forward his original timeline to open Parliament in September or October.
The Agong has twice decreed for the both parliamentary houses to sit “as soon as possible” to allow the emergency proclamation and its ordinances to be debated.
Pakatan Harapan weighs in
Pakatan Harapan has issued an ultimatum to the Prime Minister to announce concrete steps for Parliament to convene before1 August as per the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s wishes.
If the PM doesn’t make any announcements regarding the Parliament session by July 5 latest, then we urge all MPs whether opposition or government to uphold His Majesty’s decree and respect the constitutional spirit of parliamentary democracy by going to Parliament on July 19.
Joint statement was PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng
Anwar’s Resolve
PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has made it clear that Parliament should convene before the expiry of the emergency on 1 August because the Agong specifically wanted MPs to debate the proclamation of Emergency and the Emergency Ordinances.
“This means that Parliament must be reconvened on short notice,” said Anwar
The Agong specifically cited Article 150(3) of the Federal Constitution which stipulated that both the proclamation and the ordinances could be revoked if Parliament so chooses.
Therefore, Anwar said, Dewan Rakyat speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun and the Prime Minister should take steps to convene Parliament immediately.
Muhyiddin should resign if he refuses to heed the royal decree.
PKR President Datuk Sri Anwar Ibrahim
Operation Black Flag
The Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR) is calling on the public to wave black flags this Saturday (July 3) as a show of protest against the Perikatan Nasional government.
SSR said those who want to join the protest should wave flags at their homes, businesses, streets, or anywhere appropriate and post pictures of it on social media at 3pm with the hashtag #lawan.
The protest has three demands, namely for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to resign immediately, for Parliament to convene immediately, and for the state of emergency to end.
This act (of waving a black flag) is a message to the government that the people are sick and tired of the uncertain solution for the people’s and the country’s problems. This act is also the start for other acts should Muhyiddin fail to resign.
Statement by Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR)
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