KUALA LUMPUR: The government should respect His Excellency Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s wishthat the Parliament session should reconvene the soonest amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Constitutional law expert, Associate Prof. Datuk Dr. Shamrahayu Abd Aziz said, the reconvening of the Parliament is an urgent and serious matter and as such the government should act fast to solve legal issues pertaining to the standing order and also the infrastructure of the Parliament.
Shamrahayu said, one month is acceptable for the purpose of preparation and the Parliament should know the best time to start the session.
To the question of whether the Parliament session could reconvene via hybrid due to the high COVID-19 cases, Shamrahayu said, besides the legal aspect, the government has to study the apps to be used for hybrid parliamentary session besides training Speakers and staff of the Parliament to use the apps.
Whether the Prime Minster, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin can still advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Shamrahayu said, the Prime Minister is still commanding the confidence and support from majority of the Members of Parliament in the Dewan Rakyat.
“Tan Sri Muhyiddin is still the head of the government and he will lose his position if there is a vote of no-confidence against him. This has not happened and this could be done only through statutory declaration and considered as valid and with legal proof,” Shamrahayu said that in Blue TV talk show on “Why should the Parliament reconvene, not reconvene soon” with moderator Ziinine Britshi here on Monday (28th June).
Asked whether Yang di-Pertuan Agong can dismiss the Prime Minister, Shamrahayu said, that could only be applied if he is on conditional appointment. As long as Agong is satisfied and in his judgement the Prime
Minister has the confidence and support from the Members of Parliament then he will still be the head of the government.
On 19th June 2021, Istana Negara signalled that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong wanted the Dewan Rakyat to meet immediately to debate the emergency and COVID-19 pandemic management.
On another development, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong today (29th June) reiterated that the Parliament should reconvene “as soon as possible”, following an audience with the speakers and deputy speakers of the two houses of Parliament.
The Agong had summoned Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun, his deputies Azalina Said Othman and Mohd Rashid Hasnon, Dewan Negara President Rais Yatim and his deputy Mohamad Ali Mohamad to Istana Negara this morning.
In a statement today, Comptroller of the Royal Household Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said the Agong wishes to see the emergency proclamation and emergency ordinances debated, in accordance to Article 150(3) of the Federal Constitution. – Malaysia World News
