Citing technicality, Takiyuddin dodges queries on whether king revoked EOs

 

PARLIAMENT | De facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan today declined to answer questions on the validity of his announcement that emergency ordinances were revoked - much to the chagrin of opposition MPs.

Takiyuddin said he was bound to a ruling by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun yesterday, to answer such questions next Monday (Aug 2).

“Everyone is subject to the Standing Orders. I am bound by the Speaker’s ruling for me to explain on Monday,” Takiyuddin (above) said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Earlier lawmakers, including Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) demanded to know whether the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had revoked the emergency ordinances, as is required by the Federal Constitution.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim claimed Takiyuddin's refusal to answer meant the King had not assented to revoking the ordinances on July 21.

Opposition lawmakers also argued that they only want Takiyuddin to answer one question - whether the Agong consented to the revocation of the emergency ordinances.

“Why can you answer yesterday, but today you cannot answer?” questioned Tony Pua (DAP-Damansara).

Eventually, Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Azalina Othman Said, who was presiding the House at that moment, said she would not overrule the speaker’s decision from yesterday.

This led to crosstalk from a number of opposition MPs who tried to convince her otherwise.

“You are not going to overrule the speaker. We are not asking him to answer everything about the ordinances. It is just one simple question,” said Khalid Samad (Amanah-Shah Alam).

Azalina remained unmoved and stuck to her initial decision not to overrule the speaker’s decision.

“You cannot force me. I am not going to overrule the speaker’s decision yesterday,” she said.

Yesterday, Takiyuddin had said in the Dewan Rakyat that Putrajaya has cancelled all emergency ordinances that were promulgated this year.

This led to uproar from the opposition, who demanded Takiyuddin to explain when the ordinances were revoked and through what mechanisms.

Takiyuddin later said the revocation took effect on July 21. However, no new gazette has been issued on the annulment of the ordinances as of noon yesterday. - Mkini