THE Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) has urged the Government to be honest and transparent by immediately calling for debate on the revocation of the Emergency Ordinances in Dewan Rakyat.
Article 150(3) provides that “A Proclamation of Emergency and any ordinance promulgated…shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament and, if not sooner revoked, shall cease to have effect if resolutions are passed by both Houses annulling such Proclamation or ordinance,…” (emphasis added).
IDEAS further expressed its concern for the stern rebuke by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah towards the announcement of the revocation of the Emergency Ordinances by de facto Law minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan in Parliament on Monday July 26, 2021.
The statement from the Istana Negara emphasised that the YDPA had decreed that the Ordinances were supposed to be tabled and debated in Parliament as per His Majesty’s audience with the Law Minister and the Attorney General on July 24.
“This is unprecedented and it reflects the severity of this issue.
“The Agong has stated in no uncertain terms that the Government’s act of applying for the Ordinances’ annulment in haste, and not having tabled them in Parliament, alongside its conflicting and confusing statements, have failed to respect the rule of law as upheld by the Rukun Negara.
“We believe that the Government must seriously consider its position in light of these recent developments,” said IDEAS CEO Tricia Yeoh.
IDEAS also views the king’s official statement as a signal of a constitutional crisis, in which the Government is seen to be exercising its power beyond what is permitted within constitutional boundaries.
Ever since the Parliament was suspended seven months ago, there have been severe transparency and accountability deficits in the legislative decision-making process, it noted in the statement.
“Serious attention and importance must be given to the decree of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as well as His Majesty’s concern.
“We must not allow democracy to suffer, and Malaysia deserves greater transparency and accountability in weathering the present COVID-19, economic and presently constitutional crisis,” Yeoh said. – July 30, 2021.
