PRIME Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has agreed that Parliament will convene before August 1, said Takiyuddin Hassan.

The de facto law minister said the date of the meeting will be decided by the cabinet at its meeting on July 7.

“The prime minister, as the head of Parliament, has decided to call for a Parliament sitting as soon as possible, before August 1, 2021,” he said in a statement today.

“This will be finalised during the July 7 cabinet meeting.

“The federal government abides by the king’s views on all matters pertaining to the administration of the country, including those related to the reconvening of Parliament.”

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, in a message to the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara heads, has reiterated his earlier decree that Parliament should convene “as soon as possible”.

In a statement on June 29, Comptroller of the Royal Household Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said the Agong has conveyed this to lower house speaker Azhar Azizan Harun and upper house president Rais Yatim during audience that morning. 

“During the one-hour session, which was also attended by Dewan Negara deputy president Mohamad Ali Mohamad and Dewan Rakyat deputy speakers Azalina Othman Said and Rashid Hasnon, the king reiterated that Parliament needs to reconvene immediately, adhering to guidelines and standard operating procedure put in place by the government,” the statement read.

“This is to allow the emergency proclamation and its ordinances to be tabled in Parliament, as stipulated under clause 150 of the federal constitution.”

This article outlines that both the proclamation and ordinances can be revoked if Parliament elects to do so.

On June 16, after a Conference of Rulers meeting, the king decreed that Parliament should convene as soon as possible to debate on the emergency ordinances.

In a separate statement, the Conference of Rulers decreed that emergency should not be extended beyond August 1.

Fadil said the king also felt that all parliamentary select committees must continue meeting to provide checks and balances.

“This is to ensure an administration that is transparent, and acts with integrity and responsibility, especially on public policy issues, fiscal issues and public spending,” he said.

A day later, in a joint statement, Azhar and Rais said Muhyiddin has been informed of the king’s decree.

“It is proposed to the prime minister that a special sitting be held before August 1,” they added. – July 2, 2021.