PAKATAN Harapan wants Muhyiddin Yassin to reconvene Parliament without delay, as decreed by Agong, or just step down from his position as the prime minister. 

“It’s crucial that Parliament is convened so that all emergency ordinances and the national recovery plan can be debated,” said the opposition in a statement today. 

This includes the national budget to assist Malaysians affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, said the bloc. 

“If the prime minister stalls or gives reasons to postpone Parliament, it would mean that he has ignored the royalty’s advice and lost the confidence of the majority to govern. 

“If Muhyiddin insists on refusing to adhere to the king’s advice to reconvene Parliament, he should just resign as prime minister,” PH said. 

Yesterday, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, after a special meeting with the Malay rulers, had issued a statement calling for Parliament to reconvene soon to discuss and debate issues involving Covid-19. 

The rulers, in a separate statement, also called for the same, and said the emergency should not be extended beyond August 1. 

Parliamentary sittings, state assemblies and elections have been suspended under the emergency, prompting criticism of Muhyiddin and his government for avoiding legislative checks and balances. 

In February, the king decreed that Parliament should meet even during a state of emergency. 

The emergency, declared on January 11 to effectively fight the pandemic, is to end on August 1. 

In his address to the nation on Tuesday, Muhyiddin said Parliament can reconvene under phase 3 of the government’s national recovery plan, which is around September or October. 

“I give my commitment that Parliament will reopen in this phase under tight standard operating procedure,” the prime minister said in his national address. – June 17, 2021.