UMNO supreme council member Datuk Puad Zarkashi mocked Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) leaders for trying to interpret Istana Negara’s message to suit their whims and fancies.
“When the Yang di-Pertuan Agong decreed that we need a stable and effective Government to contain COVID-19 and rejuvenate the economy, our Bersatu fellows cheered saying it was the monarch telling everyone to reduce politicking and help the administration.
“But when the Ruler decreed for the Parliament to reconvene soon and dismissed the need to extend the Emergency, Bersatu fellows got red-faced.
“These fellows lack language comprehension. Perhaps, someone should offer them a copy of Kamus Dewan,” he said, in a Facebook post.
Last week, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Almarhum Sultan Ahmad Shah said that he was of the opinion that the Parliament should be reconvened as soon as possible to allow MPs to debate issues such as the Emergency and National Recovery Plan (NRP).
His Majesty issued the statement after chairing a special Conference of Rulers meeting at the Istana Negara, following several meetings held with chiefs of political parties, the Special Independent Committee on the Emergency 2021 and other top Government officials.
“The Agong also stressed the need for a strong and stable Government that can work effectively to contain COVID-19 and revive the economy.
“The Parliament is an important platform for elected leaders to meet and discuss various issues, particularly those pertaining to the pandemic,” the Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin was reported saying, in a statement.
Stop lying to the public
The Conference of Rulers also unanimously agreed that there was no need to extend the state of Emergency beyond the Aug 1 deadline announced earlier.
However, many Government leaders claimed that the monarch’s decree was in tandem with the Government’s plan, with Law Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan saying reopening the Parliament in September or October is “soon enough”.
On related matter, former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak urged the Government to stop the narrative that the proclamation of Emergency and Parliament suspension had worked to contain the pandemic.
He also said that if the two measures were effective, then there was no reason for Malaysians to get locked in their homes for nine months straight, coupled with various movement restriction imposed.
“If we had succeeded, then why did our intensive care unit (ICU) capacity exceed for months? We’re also leading in Asean in terms of new infections, based on population size.
The Pekan MP remarked: “If you don’t believe me, just look at the data and check on how we fared within five months of Emergency proclamation. Clearly, the Government had failed.” – June 20, 2021.
Photo credit: BH Online
