King Must Call Parliament Meeting Within 6 Months, Says Ku Li

 

(FMT) – Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah says the King must ensure that Parliament is convened within six months of its last meeting.

This, he said, was stipulated in the Federal Constitution, which the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the prime minister are bound to uphold.

Tengku Razaleigh, also known as Ku Li, said the King must be “sensitive to the responsibility to the nation” when judging any justification for the proroguing of Parliament.

“The Constitution demands that the King should not allow any lapse in calling of the Parliament beyond six months,” the Gua Musang MP, who himself is a member of the Kelantan royal family, said in a statement.

Yesterday, de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan said the Cabinet would not advise the King to allow Parliament to reconvene during the emergency until Aug 1.

This is despite the King saying last week that parliamentary meetings can be held during the period. Parliament was suspended when the Emergency was declared on Jan 12.

Takiyuddin said there was no need for Parliament to meet as the King is able to enact laws through the Emergency Ordinance. He added that the government was concerned about the health and safety of elected representatives in the Dewan Rakyat – many of whom are above 60.

On arguments by lawyers that it was Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s prerogative to decide when Parliament reconvenes, Tengku Razaleigh said they were “mistaken”.

“They have not understood that Malaysia is bound by the Constitution, and no prerogatives, either historically or constitutionally, exists.”