Muhyiddin must prove his majority on Monday or resign

 

From Murugesan Sinnandavar

The press release issued yesterday by the Prime Minister’s Office in response to the Palace’s earlier statement is troubling indeed.

The PMO gave a lengthy narration on the course of events. However, there appears to be omissions on certain key factors and gaps in its narration.

PMO cited Articles 40(1) & (1A) of the Federal Constitution which provide that the King is to act on the advice of the prime minister and his Cabinet.

PMO refers to an audience with the King by the prime minister and the attorney-general on July 27, whereby it was claimed that the King was advised on the revocation of the emergency ordinances.

It further states that the King was advised on the government’s position that in view thereof, there was no need to annul the ordinances in Parliament.

However, the PMO is silent as to whether the King did in fact give his consent or sign off on the said advice. This is the key question raised in Parliament.

The Palace, in its press release, stated the King’s disappointment at the government’s failure to table and debate the revocation of the emergency ordinances in Parliament as agreed during an audience on July 24.

The PMO’s press release is also silent on this breach of assurance given by the government to the King.

The government is insistent that the ordinances only need to be laid in Parliament but not tabled. According to the explanation of the Dewan Rakyat speaker, “laid” means just putting copies of the ordinances on the MPs’ tables, nothing more.

Note that the Palace issued its strongly worded statement on July 29, well after the audiences on July 24 and 27.

Notwithstanding the definition of “laid”, all attempts by MPs to move a motion to table and debate the emergency ordinances have so far been delayed.

Why is this government refusing to defend its position in Parliament ?

The King and the people are on the same page on these key issues.

The government is at odds on both fronts, both with the people it purports to represent, and the King, under whose pleasure it purports to rule.

The time has come for the King to call on the prime minister to prove his majority in Parliament on Monday or resign immediately. - FMT

Murugesan Sinnandavar is a lawyer and FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.