Parliament must meet before the Emergency ends on Aug 1

Parliament must meet before Aug 1, not after, says ex-speaker PETALING JAYA: It is only logical and makes “constitutional sense” to reconvene Parliament before the Emergency ends on Aug 1, former Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Yusof said today. He said the Emergency Ordinance issued in January should be tabled for debate before the expiry…

A durian party under Covid-19 lockdown!? How arrogant!

PETALING JAYA: The police will call in Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon and several other individuals over an alleged durian party that happened in Kampung Poh in Perak recently. Batu Pahat police chief Ismail Dollah said a police report has been lodged regarding the video that went viral on social media and an…

Urgency for Parliament to reconvene before emergency expires

As state legislatures across the country race to reconvene after the emergency, several legal experts argued there is extra urgency for Parliament to do so. Constitutional law expert Shad Saleem Faruqi (above) said under Article 150(3) of the Federal Constitution, a proclamation of emergency and emergency ordinances can be annulled through Parliament. Debating and voting…

During Emergency the king can call for Parliament to reconvene

THERE seems to be a lot of debate and confusion as to whether His Majesty the king can on his own initiative convene Parliament. A debate between the honourable Attorney-General, constitutional experts, etc. Many have misunderstood that central issue, which is whether the king can convene Parliament during an emergency. So, let me break it…

Statesmen think of the next generation, not the next election

Former minister Rafidah Aziz has panned what she called the uncertainty, incoherence and despair surrounding the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, telling the leadership that real statesmen think of the next generation’s future instead of being fixated with the next election. “I do not want to belabour on what the government needs to be…

Alamak, MCO now called “Phase 1 of NRP” – WHAT FOR!?

KUALA LUMPUR – The nationwide lockdown will not end tomorrow, with Phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) to continue until the daily Covid-19 caseload dips below 4,000, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. “The government will announce more comprehensive assistance for all levels of society on Monday or Tuesday.” He told Bernama…

Anger over decision to allow factories to operate

KUALA LUMPUR – As Putrajaya mulls over whether to extend the third movement control order (MCO 3.0), the Health Ministry’s Facebook page is flooded with angry comments urging the federal government to shut down factories, as they have proven to be Covid-19 hotspots. The ministry’s posts have been bombarded with comments by netizens calling for…

Agong acts on advice of PM who has support of MPs

“If the Prime Minister ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the House of Representatives, then, unless at his request the Yang di-Pertuan Agong dissolves Parliament, the Prime Minister shall tender the resignation of the Cabinet.” PETALING JAYA: One of the nation’s leading constitutional law experts says the Yang di-Pertuan…

The Amazing Logic of Annuar Musa

“Federal territories minister Annuar Musa said Malaysians’ apparent lack of fear of Covid-19 proved that the government had succeeded in controlling the pandemic.” PETALING JAYA: Federal territories minister Annuar Musa has become the subject of ridicule on social media after saying that people are seemingly unafraid of Covid-19, which he took to be an indicator…

Parliament’s opening – a royal rebuke?

COMMENT | Last week, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong chaired a special meeting of the Malay rulers at Istana Negara after granting audiences to political leaders the week before. After the meeting of the Malay Rulers, Istana Negara issued a statement stating, amongst others, the Agong’s view that Parliament should reconvene as soon as possible. The…