Heed royal call or you commit treachery towards Malay rulers, Zahid tells govt

Umno today called on the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government to hold Parliament proceedings within 14 days, saying failure to do so would mean treachery and a lack of respect for the rulers following their recent statements on the matter.

In a statement, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said it was critical for Parliament sittings to be held immediately to give voice to the demands and aspirations of the people during this challenging time, and to ensure accountability in the government’s administration.

“Umno fully supports both statements by Istana Negara and the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal which state the views of the Agong and the Malay rulers who decreed that Parliament should convene at once,” he said.

“There is no need to go back and forth over the terms ‘as soon as possible’ and ‘immediately’ in the two statements which in fact show the agreement of the Agong and the Malay rulers on the matter.”

He also said that Umno would hold a special meeting of its Supreme Council to decide on its next move.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah had said after a series of audiences with politicians 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.

In a later statement, the Malay rulers agreed with the king that Parliament should be allowed to convene as soon as possible.

They also agreed that there was no need to extend the state of emergency beyond its expected deadline of Aug 1.

Parliament and state assembly proceedings have been suspended since the emergency was declared in January alongside the second movement control order.