Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Azalina Othman Said (above) has rejected a request from Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan for her agreement that a special parliamentary session be held regarding the emergency proclamation.
She said this in a letter to the Umno secretary-general today, copied to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and BN MPs.
"It must be stressed the recently gazetted emergency ordinance stated that Parliament can only be convened until as decided by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
"Therefore, in my view, the likelihood of the king to convene Parliament or revoke the (emergency) proclamation and ordinance is very slim," said the Pengerang MP in her letter seen by Malaysiakini.
"For the given reasons, with all due respect, I reject and disagree to the request for my agreement on the said issue, as per YB Pontian's letter dated Jan 18, 2021," she said.
Among others, Azalina said she took into consideration Article 150(8) of the Federal Constitution that stated an emergency proclamation by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong could not be challenged in any court of law.
At the same time, she noted there were alternative proposals that could be submitted to the king, including the setting-up of a bipartisan Special Parliament Council to advise on matters of human rights and basic liberties under the Federal Constitution.
"The council can comprise members of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara from both government and opposition parties, with powers to summon the rakyat for their inputs and proposals.
"All Umno Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara members who are also members of the bipartisan Parliament group and select committees can also continue to play an active role so that its functions will go on," she said, pointing out that permission has been granted for all other parliamentary activities to carry on amid the suspended sittings.
As for issues faced by constituents, Azalina said MPs are still granted allocations and permission to be on the ground, so any matter that arises could be directly or indirectly brought to the attention of Umno ministers in cabinet meetings.
This was on top of other existing platforms to address any objections towards the government's policies, including through the Perikatan Nasional presidential council.
In terms of logistics, Azalina said many countries had taken precautionary steps, including amending their parliamentary standing orders that would allow for sittings to be held online.
"The fact is, this was not by our country in the last Parliament sitting," she added.
Earlier today, former Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa also responded to Ahmad's letter, saying that his successor should first consult with the relevant experts before asking Umno MPs to express their consent.
In the letter, Annuar described the move as a "clear attempt" to conspire with the opposition", "insult the party's decision", and "disobey the Agong".
Pakatan Harapan MPs have said that an emergency is not necessary because the movement control order SOPs should be sufficient.
They claim that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has the political motivation of avoiding elections and parliamentary sittings while being able to govern unchecked.
The Dewan Rakyat was scheduled to meet for the first time this year from March 8 to April 8. - Mkini
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