KUALA LUMPUR – UMNO’s Gua Musang MP, Tengku Razeleigh Hamzah mocked certain leaders for being ignorant of the recent Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Mustafa Billah Shah’s decree to convene Parliament “as soon as possible”.
The octogenarian, who is commonly known as Ku Li, in a statement today said that the King’s decree for Parliament to convene “as soon as possible” were misinterpreted by certain quarters.
“Many have given various interpretation on ‘as soon as possible’. Some thinks it means like yesterday,” said Ku Li mockingly.
Although no fingers were pointed at anyone, it is believed that he was referring to Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) law minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.
On Thursday, the PAS secretary-general in a talk show themed ‘Proklamasi Darurat: berjaya atau sebaliknya (Emergency Proclamation: Successful or otherwise)’ said that the King did not specify which month the sitting should be held. He only said ‘as soon as possible.’
Takiyuddin, who is also the Kota Bharu MP, added that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had already said Parliament would reconvene in September or October when announcing the National Recovery Plan on Tuesday.
On the same note, Ku Li said Parliament must reconvene within six months of the last sitting, as stipulated in Article 55 of the Federal Constitution.
Absolute Power
Article 55 of the Federal Constitution stipulates that only the King can summon for Parliament to be in session. His Majesty also has the absolute power to prorogue or dissolve the Parliament.
Therefore, His Majesty is vested by the Constitution to summon for the Parliament to meet within six months between the last proceeding in the last session and the date appointed for its first proceeding in the next session.
The last Dewan Rakyat sitting was held on Dec 17 and the six months was up yesterday.
Adding on further, Ku Li said failure to do so would mean that the Prime Minister would have violated the Federal Constitution by not advising the King to convene Parliament.
Parliament and state assemblies were suspended on January 12 this year after the King declared a nationwide Emergency to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Emergency ends on 01 August this year. – New Malaysia Herald
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