PKR MP disagrees with Agong telling politicians to wait for next election

 

Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim said a monarch must abide by constitutional provisions and not follow personal sentiments and tastes.

He told Malaysiakini this when asked to comment on Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar telling MPs from both sides of the political divide that he would not entertain any attempts to topple the government.

In his royal decree during the opening of Dewan Rakyat’s new session yesterday, the king said everyone should respect the coalition government that has been formed and that he would not entertain any request from any party that tries to disrupt the country’s political stability.

“All parties must accept the reality and respect the unity government that has been formed. Should any of you want to play politics, then wait until the next election,” he said.

Hassan reminded Malaysians that the king is a constitutional monarch, not an absolute one.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar

“The king cannot ignore it if there is a situation such as mentioned in the Federal Constitution, where the opposition manages to get the support of the majority of MPs to allow it to form a new government.

“If it is valid and legitimate that the existing government has lost its legitimacy, then the opposition tries constitutionally, lawfully, and democratically to replace the incumbent government that has lost support.

“The Agong has to follow the provisions in the Federal Constitution, instead of following personal tastes and sentiments,” said Hassan.

‘King has crossed the line’

He stated that as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, His Majesty cannot be partisan in favour of the ruling government.

Hassan said it would be unlawful and unconstitutional for a government that has lost its support and legitimacy to rule to be allowed to continue to govern until the end of the election term.

“The Federal Constitution does not say that a government formed after one election will remain in place until the end of five years, that is until the next general election.

“The king, like politicians, must obey and respect the Federal Constitution.

“Matters that are not in the Constitution cannot be made up at will and there is only one body that can amend the Constitution, which is Parliament,” he said.

He added that in this matter, the king has crossed the line.