King Can Set Date For Parliament Sitting No Need Pm S Advice Says Ku Li

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The King granted an audience to Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun (right) and Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim (left) at the Istana Negara today. (Istana Negara Facebook pic)PETALING JAYA: The King has the power to determine a suitable date to reconvene Parliament without needing the prime minister’s advice, Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said today.
Thanking the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah for his firm message on the issue today, the Gua Musang MP said the Federal Constitution allows for the King himself to set a date for Parliament to meet, more so during the current emergency period.
“Under the constitution, Yang di-Pertuan Agong has the power to call for a parliamentary sitting without the advice of the prime minister,” he said in a press statement today.
This afternoon, the Comptroller of the Royal Household Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said the King had granted an audience to Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim and Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun today.
“His Majesty stated his view that Parliament can convene during the emergency on a date that His Majesty deems suitable, on the advice of the prime minister.
“This is as enshrined under paragraph 14(1)(b) of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021, which states that Parliament must be called, prorogued and dissolved on a date deemed suitable by the King, on the advice of the prime minister.
“Hence, the perception by certain quarters that the implementation of the proclamation of emergency would stop Parliament from convening is inaccurate,” Fadil said.
Meanwhile, after the King had announced that Parliament can be convened during the emergency period, the opposition urged Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to call for a sitting next month.
The Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council said it held a similar stance as that of the opposition and the majority of MPs who felt that if the judiciary and executive could function during an emergency, so could Parliament. - FMT

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