THE Parliament meeting called by the government is unconstitutional, according to Lim Kit Siang. 

The Iskandar Puteri lawmaker said the meeting did not provide for an address from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which happens each time the House convenes for a new session. 

“Firstly, there is no provision for the opening of Parliament with a royal address by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as the last meeting of Parliament was in December last year,” said the DAP adviser in a statement today. 

Lim, who has been calling for a Parliament meeting since February, said that when Parliament was restored on February 20, 1971 after the May 1969 riots, it began with the royal address. 

“The debate on the royal address was delayed to allow the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 1971 to be debated and adopted. 

“The first item of parliamentary business of a restored Parliament should be the opening of Parliament with a royal address by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong laying out the government’s policies for the rest of the year,” said Lim who was the Kota Melaka MP when Parliament convened after the emergency then. 

Lim said the five-day Dewan Rakyat and three-day Dewan Negara sittings are inadequate for a parliamentary meeting, which must hold a debate on the royal address. 

The DAP leader said that the Dewan Negara sitting will also violate the federal constitution as the Dewan Negara sitting only begins on August 3 when the emergency order ends on August 1. 

“The government schedule violates Article 150(3) of the constitution, which requires the emergency proclamation and ordinances to be laid before both Houses of Parliament.”

Lim said that Parliament also needed to add parliamentary reforms so that the House can play an important role to mobilise the nation in an “all-of-government” and “whole-of-society” strategy and approach to win the war against Covid-19 pandemic. 

“The cabinet meeting tomorrow should rectify the parliamentary schedule for both Houses of Parliament to comply with both the constitution and the respective Standing Orders of both Houses of Parliament,” said the 80-year-old. 

The Prime Minister’s Office announced yesterday that Dewan Rakyat will convene for a special meeting for five days, while the Dewan Negara will sit for three days this month. 

In the statement, PMO said the government has agreed to advise Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to summon the Dewan Rakyat for a special meeting from July 26 to 29 and on August 2. – July 6, 2021.