King wants Parliament to reopen before August, say speakers

 

The King, who had earlier said that he wanted Parliament to reconvene as soon as possible has now made it clear he wants it before Aug 1.

PETALING JAYA: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, wants Parliament to reconvene before Aug 1, said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun and Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim today.

They said they were fully committed and ready to comply with the King’s decree for Parliament to sit before the Emergency ends.

The King gave his views to the two speakers as well as deputy Dewan Rakyat speakers Azalina Othman Said and Mohd Rashid Hasnon during their audience yesterday.

In a joint statement, Azhar and Rais also said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had been informed of the King’s decree.

“It is proposed to the prime minister that a special sitting be held before Aug 1,” they added.

Previously, Istana Negara had said the King wanted Parliament to reconvene as soon as possible to allow for the emergency ordinances and national recovery plan to be debated by MPs.

But de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan said the King did not specifically set a date on when Parliament should reconvene, adding that Muhyiddin had already said it would reopen in September or October.

Three days ago, Takiyuddin said Parliament can only convene after the state of emergency comes to an end on Aug 1. - FMT