King has power to call for Parliament to reconvene at any time, says Zahid

 

PETALING JAYA: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has the power to call for Parliament to reconvene at any time, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).

The Umno president argued that this is based on Article 55 of the Federal Constitution that stipulates that only the King can summon Parliament to be in session.

"In addition, only His Majesty has the absolute power to prorogue or dissolve the Parliament," he said in a Facebook post on Saturday (June 19).

He added that there were several arguments suggesting that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong need not wait for the advice of the Prime Minister to reconvene Parliament.

The Bagan Datuk MP said that there was also another view that if the Emergency Ordinance supersedes the Federal Constitution, the King can still call for Parliament to reconvene without the advice of the Prime Minister.

"This is because when Article 55 is no longer applicable, it also means that Article 40 of the Constitution that stipulates that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall act in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet does not apply," said the former deputy prime minister.

He also pointed out that the Emergency Ordinance has given the power to the King to call for Parliament reconvene without the advice of the Prime Minister under Section 14 and 15 of the Emergency Ordinance.

"In general, all of the views reflect that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong can call for Parliament to reconvene at any time.

"The views are also in line with the advice of His Majesty on Feb 24 allowing Parliament to reconvene any time during the Emergency.

"It is also in line with the views of the King a few days ago calling for Parliament to reconvene as soon as possible," said Zahid.

On June 16, His Majesty had called for Parliament to be reconvened as soon as possible.

Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Mustafa Billah Shah conveyed this after looking at all the views presented by the political leaders, the Special Independent Committee on Emergency and experts as well as government agencies.

- star