The Malaysian Insight

PARLIAMENT has been suspended till 2.30pm after the Istana Negara statement earlier today which saw pandemonium breaking out at the Dewan Rakyat.

“Parliament will now be suspended till 1pm and will resume at 2.30pm,” said Deputy Speaker Rashid Hasnon after a 15-minute break at 12.45pm.

Earlier, Rashid was forced to suspend Parliament at 12.30pm after Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and the opposition called for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to resign for going against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree.

At around noon, Istana Negara issued a stern statement against the Perikatan Nasional government.

Singling out Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun’s brother, Attorney-General Idrus Harun, the palace said that both had misled Parliament.

“The king is also disappointed because Takiyuddin and Idrus had, during a virtual meeting with him on July 24, said that the revocation would be made after they had been tabled and debated in Parliament.

“The Agong stresses that Takiyuddin’s remarks on July 26 were inaccurate and had misled Parliament,” said Istana Negara.

Mohd Rashid initially refused to postpone the sitting, saying the statement from the palace was merely a “media statement”.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim sternly told Mohd Rashid not to beat around the bush.

“Deputy speaker, you don’t have to beat around the bush. This is not just a media statement. Don’t belittle the statement from the palace, this is a decree from the King.

“You should postpone this session as this is a serious matter,” Anwar said.

The Perikatan Nasional government is believed to have cancelled the Emergency ordinances after the Malay Sultans said that the Emergency should not be extended after Aug 1.

The Perikatan Nasional government, led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, is also believed to have cancelled the ordinances to avoid facing a vote in Dewan Rakyat after Umno withdrew its support for Muhyiddin earlier this month.

Muhyiddin is also widely believed to have lost the majority in Dewan Rakyat and appears to avoid any situation which requires a Parliament vote. – July 29, 2021.