THE cabinet will advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on whether the emergency should be extended, said Takiyuddin Hassan.

The de facto law minister said in a statement that upon acting on the cabinet’s advice, the king had agreed on the emergency proclamation to combat Covid-19, as announced by Putrajaya in January.

“Whether or not the emergency will end on the said date (Aug 1) should not have arisen,” he said.

“The cabinet will continue with its responsibility to advise the king regarding the emergency and will be done after taking into account all factors, including public safety, social aspects and the national economy.”

Takiyuddin was responding to a Malay Mail’s report yesterday, quoting director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, who said only the King can decide on whether to extend the emergency. 

According to the report, Noor Hisham said once the emergency is lifted, there will have to be three by-elections and the Sarawak state election. 

““Once we revoke the emergency ordinance, we will have to conduct three by-elections and the Sarawak state election as we do not have the power to stop the elections under the constitution,” he was quoted as saying in the report.

The King has been granting audiences to heads of political parties this week to discuss the country’s fight against Covid-19.

The Agong had an audience with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Wednesday, followed by audiences with Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.

On Thursday, the king had audiences with former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, MCA president Wee Ka Siong and Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal. – June 12, 2021.