PM notes Agong’s views, says follow-up steps to be guided by constitution

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today acknowledged the Agong’s views put forth in the wake of a special meeting of the Malay rulers yesterday, saying all subsequent steps will be taken in accordance with the Federal Constitution.

“During previous audiences with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the prime minister informed and advised His Majesty about the path to managing the Covid-19 pandemic, the enforcement of emergency ordinances, implementation of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, economic stimulus packages and financial aid, Parliament sittings, the National Recovery Plan and other related matters.

“Following the decree of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s views, the government will take all subsequent steps based on the Federal Constitution and the laws of the country,” said a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said yesterday that a Parliament sitting should be held as quickly as possible, to allow the emergency ordinances and National Recovery Plan to be debated in the Dewan Rakyat.

His statement, which came in the wake of a special meeting of the Malay rulers at Istana Negara, was echoed by the rulers themselves who said in a separate statement that they saw no need for the emergency period to extend beyond its scheduled deadline of Aug 1.

The state of emergency was declared in January amid a spike in Covid-19 infections which also saw the enforcement of the second movement control order across large parts of the country.

Under the emergency declaration, Parliament and state assembly sittings have been suspended.

Putrajaya said on June 4 that it was considering a hybrid system for Parliament proceedings involving a combination of physical and virtual attendance by lawmakers.