The Malaysian Insight

PARLIAMENT should reconvene immediately because the people want to know the government’s plan to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic, said Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.

According to Mohamad, he brought the subject up during his audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara earlier today.

Mohamad arrived at the palace at 3pm and talked with the king for about an hour.

“We also talked about Parliament. I asked that Parliament be reopened, and reconvened as it has in the United Kingdom,” he told reporters at the gates.

“Even in the middle of a pandemic, the British parliament is meeting more often because the people want to know what the government’s plan is to overcome Covid-19.”

He said it was the same situation in Malaysia. People want to know what is happening.

In line with other political leaders – PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng – granted an audience with the king today, Mohamad said he also discussed the current economic situation.

“People are really suffering because they have lost their income, so those are among the things that I presented to the king.

“I hope he considers all of our suggestions brought today,” Mohamad said.

It is understood that former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be granted a similar audience tomorrow.

On January 11, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the king had granted his request for a nationwide state of emergency ostensibly to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, adding that it would expire on August 1.

The declaration of a state of emergency has led to criticism that the government was trying to avoid checks and balances, ignoring calls to reconvene Parliament despite the king decreeing on February 24 that Parliament should meet even during an emergency.

Under Article 55 of the federal constitution, Parliament must meet at least once in six months, failing which it has to be dissolved.

The Perikatan Nasional government, which has avoided reconvening Parliament, said it is currently looking into a virtual parliamentary sitting concept. – June 9, 2021.