PUTRAJAYA acknowledges the role of the special independent committee formed to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the emergency, de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan said.

The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said he had been “taken out of context” when he said yesterday that the cabinet would advise the King on whether the emergency, due to end on August 1, should be extended.

“I reiterate the government’s commitment to follow the law when making decisions about the emergency, including acknowledging the mechanisms that are in place under the law,” Takiyuddin said in a statement.

“In other words, the government acknowledges the special independent committee established under section 2 of the Emergency Ordinance (Essential Powers) 2021.

“The government has never interfered in the special independent committee on the emergency and has instead given its cooperation so that this committee can fulfil its functions.”

His statement, however, did not explain why he said the cabinet would advise the King.

Takiyuddin said the cabinet would advise the King on whether the emergency would be extended in response to director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, who said only the King could decide on the extension.

The emergency was called in January to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. The special independent committee, which includes opposition lawmakers, is to advise the King on the Covid-19 situation and whether the emergency should be continued to bring the pandemic under control.

Takyuddin’s reference to the cabinet as adviser to the Agong drew rebuke from Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Azalina Othman Said, who told him to “stop shifting the goalposts!” in a tweet.

Takiyuddin responded by saying that Putrajaya is not shifting the goalposts but “correcting the rules of the game to help the referee make the right call”.

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang also slammed Takiyuddin for denying that the cabinet was “shifting goalposts” as to when the emergency should come to an end.

And PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who is a member of the committee, earlier today said Takiyuddin has caused confusion and should explain the purpose of the committee.

“I would like to ask Takiyuddin to come forward and provide an explanation,” he said.

“This committee has a very clear and specific responsibility, which is to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the continued existence of an emergency or its termination.” – June 13, 2021.