Harapan calls for AG's sacking for his conduct on royal decree

 

The Pakatan Harapan presidential council has called for the sacking of Attorney-General Idrus Harun for his conduct over the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's call for Parliament to be reconvened "as soon as possible".

This was after Idrus publicly said that it was up to the cabinet to decide on reconvening Parliament and the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong's discretion did not apply in this case.

The Harapan presidential council noted that the attorney-general has a constitutional duty under Article 145(2) of the Federal Constitution to advise the Agong and cabinet on legal matters.

However, it said this should be done directly to the king.

"(Idrus) should not announce his views publicly as he had done. His statement was a breach of confidentiality between a lawyer and a client.

"With the breach, he is not qualified to be a lawyer, what more the attorney-general. His statement was treasonous towards the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and he should be immediately dismissed," it said in a statement.

The statement was signed by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

The Harapan presidential council said the people had looked to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Conference of Rulers for a resolution at a time when the country is faced with a significant loss of life and jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as an unstable government that lacked legitimacy.

"However, the attorney-general's statement, particularly in the current context, breaks decorum and belittles the views of the Malay rulers.

"It sidelines the spirit of the Federal Constitution and makes it appear that the attorney-general had sidelined the institution of the Maly rulers and is protecting a government that wants absolute power without limits or time constraint," they said.

Parliament had been suspended since Jan 11 following a state of emergency which will expire in August.

The Conference of Rulers opposed any extension. In expressing their objection, the Harapan leaders also highlighted the need to curb the perception of abuse of power, particularly on the country's finances.

The government had in March used its emergency powers to grant itself the ability to tap into the consolidated fund and approve supplementary budgets without going through Parliament.

The government initially insisted it will only convene Parliament in September or October.

However, Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun and Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim have proposed an August-September timeline.

The duo have been summoned by the Agong and are scheduled to meet the ruler next Tuesday (June 29). - Mkini