The Malaysian Insight

THE government has decided to cancel all the ordinances that were passed during the Declaration of Emergency, effective July 21, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Parliament) Takiyuddin Hassan.

“The government has decided to cancel all the emergency ordinances made during the Emergency Proclamation. As such, the issue of annulment is no longer relevant,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

“The government has also decided not to advise Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to issue a new declaration when this one expires on August 1,” said the Kota Baru MP.

Takiyuddin was responding to opposition MPs, who asked why the government did not table the emergency and its ordinances in Parliament, in accordance with Article 150 (3) of the federal constitution.

All the six ordinances passed during emergency will be revoked, effective July 21,” said Takiyuddin.

The minister was also responding to accusations that Perikatan Nasional had dragged its feet on holding a Parliament sitting.

Earlier, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim (Port Dickson-PH) chided Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun for stopping MPs’ motions calling for the emergency to be tabled in Parliament.

“The speaker cannot use technicalities to override the spirit of the federal constitution, and should let us debate the emergency and its ordinances in Parliament.”

Earlier, Azhar told Parliament that he had rejected Anwar and Ngeh Koo Ham’s (Beruas-PH) motions because they were not in line with Standing Orders 11(3).

“Under SO 11(3), the prime minister decides on the special meeting and its agenda, and the agenda does not allow for any motions,” said Azhar.

Anwar also took the government to task for not adhering to the King’s decree in June. 

“It’s rare for the royalty to issue stern statements but it is clear that the King has asked Parliament to debate and this special meeting does not comply with the King’s wishes.

“A briefing is not a debate and is not what was decreed. It is clear that this is against the King’s orders,” said the PKR president. 

“The government has also not given any commitment to ending the emergency on August 1 as requested by the Malay rulers,” said Anwar.

According to Article 150 (3), the emergency and its ordinances must be approved by Parliament. 

Following the declaration of emergency on January 11, Parliament is meeting for the first time, for a special meeting from today till August 2.

However, a check on the website of the Attorney-General’s Chambers this morning showed that no new gazette had been published, while the government has not provided any time to debate the emergency and its ordinances. – July 26, 2021.