The Malaysian Insight

DEWAN Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun stood his ground today, telling the opposition to wait until Monday for Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Takiyuddin Hassan’s explanation on the revocation of the emergency ordinances.

Azhar said that while the de facto law minister should clarify whether the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had consented to the revocation, the House will have to follow the order of business.

“Let’s wait until Monday,” he said today as he did yesterday when MPs sought clarification from Takiyuddin. 

The lawmakers had pressed the chair again this morning for the explication on the matter.

Deputy Speaker Azalina Othman, who was presiding at the time, said she could not overrule the speaker, telling them to take up the matter with Azhar.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim told Azhar he would be perceived as colluding with the government if he did not compel Takiyuddin to immediately reply to the points raised by the opposition bloc.

“Never mind the details. I agree that the details can be discussed on Monday. But we want to know whether all that we have been discussing in these five days has become unlawful as the (ordinances) have already been revoked on July 21,” he said.

Anwar said Takiyuddin’s response to the situation had made him had “100% sure” that the Agong had not consented to the revocation and that the minister had misled the House if that was indeed the case.

“Speaker, do not collude with those who have misled the house from that honourable seat. That is why we are asking for just one thing.

“I am disheartened if the speaker is not willing; then we have a big problem with the speaker,” said Anwar.

Khalid Abdul Samad (Shah Alam-PH) said the matter had nothing to do with the order of business and that the MPs were merely seeking but clarification on what Takiyuddin had said the day before.

Gobind Singh Deo (Puchong-PH) said the speaker should respect the Agong or resign.

“This happened because the prime pinister ran away yesterday because he was dodging the question. Now all we want is an answer from the prime minister’s floor and not the law minister’s floor,” he said.

“Yesterday the prime minister ran. Please respect the Agong, speaker, or I reiterate what Bukit Gelugur has said, please resign.”

Takiyuddin caused uproar yesterday when he announced that the government had cancelled the ordinances passed during the emergency, effective July 21.

He said the government had also decided not to advise the Agong to issue a new declaration when this one expires on August 1. – July 27, 2021.