Dewan Rakyat, Senate speakers summoned to Istana Negara

 

The heads of the Dewan Rakyat and the Senate are to have an audience with the King.

PETALING JAYA: Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun and Senate president Rais Yatim have been called for an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara, reportedly on Tuesday.

The Comptroller of the Royal Household, Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, confirmed the audience in a brief text message to FMT. He declined to provide further details.

Azhar and Rais were reported to be meeting the King at 11am on Tuesday according to The Vibes and the meeting was believed to be about reconvening Parliament before the state of emergency ends after Aug 1.

FMT has contacted Azhar for details of the meeting.

Yesterday, Azhar and Rais had proposed that a special sitting of Parliament be held in early August to discuss how a hybrid parliamentary session (partly online and partly in person) could take place.

They said the special sitting could discuss amendments to Standing Orders enabling such a hybrid meeting, after which proceedings could be held by the end of August or early September.

In response earlier today, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim charged that the office of the Dewan Rakyat speaker was being used to delay the reconvening of Parliament. He questioned why resumption of proceedings seemed to be so “laborious”.

“The constitution states the declaration of emergency and the emergency ordinance must be debated and voted on in Parliament. The failure of the Perikatan Nasional-led government to respect Parliament has put Malaysia in danger of a constitutional crisis,” he said.

Parliament and all state assemblies have been suspended under the state of emergency declared on Jan 12. Politicians of both sides have clamoured for legislatures to be reopened following an Istana Negara statement in late February that parliamentary meetings could be held during the state of emergency.

Last month, the King sought the views of 18 political party leaders about the Emergency and measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Istana Negara later said the King wanted Parliament to be reconvened as soon as possible to allow for the emergency ordinances and national recovery plan to be debated by MPs. - FMT