THE five-day parliamentary sitting later this month is insufficient to discuss important issues such as the proclamation of emergency, the Emergency Ordinance and the Covid-19 National Recovery Plan, said the Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council. 

In a statement issued today, it said Parliament was a platform to listen to the grouses of the people and not lectures by ministers.

“The presidential council is of the view that the special session is too short to really discuss the matters that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has highlighted, namely the proclamation of emergency, Emergency Ordinances and the National Recovery Plan. 

“In fact, we deeply regret that the Perikatan Nasional government only intends to provide information on the Covid-19 National Recovery Plan without any debate, while the proclamation of emergency and Emergency Ordinances will only be tabled and not discussed or decided,” the council said, adding that this is not in line with His Majesty’s view.

The statement was signed by PKR president and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng. 

On Monday, the Prime Minister’s Office 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 July 29 and on August 2.

It said the meetings are to inform MPs of the government’s Covid-19 recovery plan and make changes to the laws to allow for hybrid meetings. 

PH said the five-day sitting without any debate would not satisfy the Agong’s recommendation and claimed that the short special sitting this time will turn to be nothing but a political farce that carries no weightage. 

“Parliament is a platform to listen to problems, voice grievances and restore the hopes of the people while finding solutions to the country’s crisis.

“The principles of accountability and sincerity need to be upheld with a check and balance role involving all MPs, and Parliament is not a stage to just listen to the minister’s lectures without being given space to debate,” it added. 

The PH presidential council said the government should jointly plan and organise the special parliamentary session with the opposition so that Malaysians could successfully overcome the Covid-19 and economic crises. 

“We must jointly fight Covid-19 to save the country, rather than politicise to protect positions,” it said. – July 7, 2021.