After Bar S Lawsuit Minister Laments Popularity Seekers Challenging Emergency

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De facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan took aim at the Malaysian Bar after the latter filed a suit against the government to nullify certain emergency laws and compel the prime minister to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to reconvene Parliament.
Takiyuddin (above) said the Bar must act within the law and help people understand it.
"The government is disappointed that while all government machinery has focused all efforts, including financially, to combat Covid-19, there are some who interpret the law according to their own tastes, as though to gain popularity among the people.
"As a professional legal body, I am confident that the Bar still upholds the principles of justice and the sovereignty of the nation's laws, and will fight efforts to manipulate the law, especially while the country is in a critical and tense situation due to the Covid-19 pandemic," he said in a statement today.
On Friday, the Bar filed a suit seeking to invalidate emergency provisions, including the suspension of legislative bodies; the fine of up to RM100,000 for circulating "fake news"; and a provision which allowed the executive to bypass Parliament in spending matters.
It is uncertain if the High Court will allow the Malaysian Bar's case to proceed as the Agong promulgated all emergency ordinances under Clause 2B of Article 150 of the Federal Constitution.
Clause 8 of Article 150 of the Federal Constitution explicitly stated that no court has jurisdiction over any ordinances promulgated under Clause 2B.
Takiyuddin stressed today that the emergency is only in effect until Aug 1 and was focused solely on combating the Covid-19 pandemic.
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said the people were getting angry over the emergency and that public sentiment was even turning against the royalty. - Mkini

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