On Wednesday, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah expressed the view that Parliament must sit as soon as possible to allow the Emergency Ordinance and National Recovery Plan to be debated by members of the Dewan Rakyat. — Bernama photo
KUCHING (June 18): Sarawakian MPs Jugah Muyang and Kelvin Yii have welcomed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree that Parliament reconvene as soon as possible, with both saying the move will allow lawmakers to debate the Emergency laws as well as the National Recovery Plan.
Jugah, the Lubok Antu MP, said the Dewan Rakyat is an important platform for elected representatives to meet and discuss various issues, especially those pertaining to the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“For me, the sooner Parliament reconvenes the better. There are many issues that need to be debated,” he said when contacted yesterday.
On Wednesday, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah expressed the view that Parliament must sit as soon as possible to allow the Emergency Ordinance and National Recovery Plan to be debated by members of the Dewan Rakyat.
This was conveyed by Comptroller of the Royal Household of Istana Negara Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin in a statement, after Al-Sultan Abdullah had earlier chaired a Special Discussion of the Malay Rulers at Istana Negara.
The statement said the King had weighed the views of all political party leaders, the Independent Special Committee on Emergency 2021 as well briefings by experts and government agencies.
Yii, who is Bandar Kuching MP, expressed hope that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) federal government would heed His Majesty’s decree on reconvening Parliament.
“One of the main solutions to our current problems is to restore parliamentary democracy in our country so that all MPs can play their part to contribute suggestion and ideas to the current government, and also provide proper checks and balance to the system,” he told The Borneo Post.
“There is no more reason for any delay. Any attempt to circumnavigate such decree will only prove that the PN government is merely using the Emergency to stay in power even though it lacks legitimacy,” he added.
Meanwhile, Opposition MPs Lim Kit Siang and Maria Chin Abdullah were among several lawmakers who expressed their support yesterday for the Agong’s recommendation that Parliament reconvene as soon as possible.
“The Conference of Rulers special meeting yesterday (Wednesday) has set a good example which must be followed in word and spirit by all Malaysians.
Let us put aside our differences, whether political or otherwise, and single-mindedly win the war against the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Lim in his statement.
Chin, in her statement, said the PN government must take heed of the Agong’s and Conference of Malay Rulers’ advice, to allow members of Parliament and state legislative assembly representatives to fulfil their responsibility as lawmakers.