Analysts Everyone Understood What Rulers Meant Does The Govt

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The Yang di-Pertuan Agong and his fellow rulers made it clear they want MPs back in Parliament ahead of schedule, according to several political analysts approached by Malaysiakini.
However, their choice to state "as soon as possible" left room for interpretation which the government will likely use to its advantage.
According to Putrajaya's National Recovery Plan, Parliament can reopen once daily case numbers are below 2,000 and when there are "sufficient" intensive care beds available. At least 40 percent of the population must also be vaccinated.
As of today, Putrajaya has not addressed ambiguities in all three conditions. However, tentatively, Putrajaya said these conditions should be achieved in September at the earliest.
According to University of Tasmania professor James Chin's interpretation of the rulers' decree, the timeline given by Putrajaya was not acceptable but the rulers did not need to say so explicitly.
"I think everyone understood what the rulers wanted. The suggestion was secepat mungkin (as soon as possible), which means they want it before the end of the emergency this Aug 1.
"Everyone understood that. They want (Parliament) to be convened within the next two or three weeks, to get it done," said Chin.
Universiti Malaya's Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the rulers were clear they wanted parliamentary democracy to function.
"This is the second time this stand had been conveyed to the Perikatan Nasional government, and it shows how much the King and Malay Rulers are concerned about the situation after their first advice was ignored," he said.
On Feb 24, the Agong, after granting audiences to both the speakers of the upper and lower houses, opined that legislatures can function even during an emergency.
However, both Chin and Azman believed it was unlikely for Putrajaya to heed the implicit royal decrees.
Chin said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin needs the emergency to buy time to shore up his position.
"I think the (rulers' position) does not really matter to Muhyiddin. Nothing can touch him until the emergency expires on August 1. So, he is quite safe for the next six weeks.
"All he has to do is show he is trying to follow the orders of the Malay rulers but I suspect he won't.
"He will just say 'I follow their suggestions', but (in the end) he will give all sorts of reasons why he cannot do it.
"So, that was the reason he announced one day before that the Parliament will only sit in September," said Chin.

Universiti Malaya Associate Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi
Muhyiddin's National Recovery Plan was announced in a televised speech where the prime minister stated his commitment to convening Parliament.
This speech was made on Tuesday (June 15), a day ahead of the special Conference of Rulers convened by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Following this, the rulers decreed they do not wish to see the emergency extended and wanted MPs to debate the country's Covid-19 response as well as the National Recovery Plan.
Among others, the rulers were also concerned about political instability, disunity among the rakyat, and the "worrying" state of the economy.
Treacherous to disobey
Chin said the government now has about 10 weeks to find solutions to several pressing matters, particularly the slow rollout of Covid-19 vaccines.
"If they convene Parliament now, they will come under tremendous pressure over the vaccination program.
"The longer they wait, they can resolve some issues. This is the reason why the law minister is giving all sorts of excuses," he said.
Awang said any delaying tactics by Putrajaya will likely be seen as "treason" by the public.
"The rulers have made their points in a firm manner. The government cannot ignore it this time and berdolak-dalik (dilly-dally).
"They have to heed the decree by the Agong which is supported by his fellow rulers.
"Insubordination will be seen as derhaka (treason)," he said. - Mkini

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