KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (June 29): The Yang di-Pertuan Agong today granted an audience to Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim and Dewan Rakyat speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun at Istana Negara to discuss the start of parliamentary sessions, following meetings with political leaders and the special Conference of Rulers over the past two weeks. Senator Datuk Seri Mohamad Ali Mohamad, Dewan Negara deputy president, and both Deputy Speakers of Dewan Rakyat, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, were also present.
The Comptroller of the Royal Household, Datuk Indera Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, said in a statement today that the one-hour meeting, which began at around 11 a.m. this morning, focused on His Majesty’s desire for Parliament to resume as soon as feasible.
“This is to allow the previously issued Emergency Proclamation and Emergency Ordinances to be tabled and discussed in Parliament as required by Article 150(3) of the Federal Constitution,” he explained.
Any Emergency Proclamation and any ordinances promulgated during an emergency must be brought before both the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara to be passed, according to Article 150(3) of the Federal Constitution.
Furthermore, Ahmad Fadil stated that the Agong stated during the meeting that all Select Committees under the 14th Parliament should continue to meet as a check and balance mechanism to ensure transparency, integrity, and accountable governance, particularly when it comes to public and social policy issues, as well as financial affairs and national expenditure.
His Majesty conveyed his gratitude and admiration for the Parliament’s dedication and readiness to reopen parliamentary proceedings as soon as feasible during the meeting session.
“It should also be stated that the thoughts and requests mentioned here (in the statement) are His Majesty’s and the Malay Rulers’ perspective, which is founded on the principles of the Federal Constitution and the rule of law,” he added.
From June 9 to 15, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah met with 18 political leaders in a series of talks that culminated in the special Conference of Rulers meeting on June 16.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong then ordered that Parliament be reconvened “as quickly as feasible” so that legislators may consider the Emergency Ordinance and the National Recovery Plan.
Parliamentary sessions have been halted since the declaration of emergency, which Putrajaya claims will let the government to mobilize all essential resources to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak, took effect on January 11.
The Emergency Ordinance is set to expire on August 1st, subject to the Special Independent Committee on the Emergency 2021’s recommendation on whether it can be lifted sooner or later.
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