YANG di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah today expressed disappointment with the government’s announcement it had withdrawn emergency ordinances on July 21 without any debate in Parliament.

He also said that he was not informed of the government’s intention to do so.

In a statement issued by Comptroller of the Royal Household Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, the king said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Parliament) Takiyuddin Hassan’s announcement on the revocation had caused confusion among lawmakers.

He also said Takiyuddin’s remarks in the Dewan Rakyat were inaccurate.

“The Agong is disappointed with the statement made in Parliament on July 26 that the government has revoked all emergency ordinances, even though the matter was not referred to him.

“His Majesty is also greatly saddened that what was decreed to Takiyuddin and Attorney-General Idrus Harun during an online meet on July 24 – that the motion to repeal emergency ordinances must be tabled and debated in Parliament for the purpose of dissolution – has not been implemented.

“The Agong stresses that Takiyuddin’s remarks on July 26 were inaccurate and had misled MPs,” Fadil said in the statement.

The Agong also said that the government’s haste in revoking the ordinances without debating them in Parliament was disrespectful of the principles of rules of law, and paid no heed to the constitutional powers and functions of the king.

The king further added that, while he was bound by the federal constitution to heed to the cabinet’s advice, he also had a duty to point out if there were any acts by any party that were unconstitutional.

On Monday, the first day of the Parliament’s special meeting, Takiyuddin announced that the emergency ordinances had been revoked on July 21, and thus it was unnecessary to debate them.

This caused consternation among the lawmakers, and when pressed for clarification, including whether the decision had the king’s consent, the minister replied that he would only answer questions the following Monday.

Yesterday, opposition MPs asked for Takiyuddin to be referred to the Committee of Privileges for misleading Parliament.

The speaker has not made a ruling on the matter yet.

The king, in the statement, also expressed his appreciation to the government for calling Parliament to discuss various issues before the end of the emergency on August 1.

On Monday, Takiyuddin also said that the government would not be seeking to extend the emergency after it expires. – July 29, 2021.