“The fact that the PMO issued a “statement laced with defence” that paid no tribute whatsoever to the Rulers’ earnest efforts towards a resolution for the country’s economic, social, political, health and education woes reeks of insolence and probable prejudice”
Raggie Jessy Rithaudeen
ڤجابت ڤردان منتري بيادڤ ترهادڤ اڬوڠ، محي الدين هاروس لتق جاوتن
TTF: Sertai saluran Telegram TTF di sini
I read with keen interest a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) regarding the stand taken by the Malay Rulers during a special discussion held yesterday at the Istana Negara.
The stand, made public separately by the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal and the Controller of Royal Household, states that the Rulers agree that Parliament should reconvene as soon as possible and that there isn’t a need for the ongoing State of Emergency to be extended beyond the 1st of August.
In response, the PMO merely “took note” of the Agong’s decree before defending itself by stressing that the prime minister had already informed and advised His Majesty on several matters, namely;
1. the Covid-19 pandemic management,
2. enforcement of the Emergency Ordinances,
3. implementation of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Program,
4. economic stimulus packages and financial assistance to the people,
5. implementation of Parliamentary sessions, and
6. the National Recovery Plan
But who asked?
The people are not interested to know what the government has or has not already informed or advised the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, but what the government intends to do about His Royal Highness’ decree and suggestions made by the Rulers.
All the government has done so far is to “take note” of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong’s decree without even thanking the Rulers for their suggestions or committing to undertake with utmost sincerity what the Agong instructed the government to do.
That’s not all.
When asked, de facto law minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan went on record to say that the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong never really specified the actual date or month for parliament to convene and defended Muhyiddin’s commitment to roll out a parliamentary session come September or October.
How rude is that?
If Takiyuddin had taken the time to read between the lines, he would have understood that use of the term “as soon as possible” by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong likely meant that His Royal Highness expects Muhyiddin to commence, with immediate effect, necessary procedures to allow parliament to reconvene.
Takiyuddin would have realised this as one of the primary reasons the Rulers agreed that parliament should reconvene was to allow Members of Parliament to debate the Prime Minister’s so called “National Recovery Plan.”
It is in this plan that Muhyiddin laid out his commitment to convene parliament in September or October, meaning, the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong probably did not agree with the target dates and wants parliament to sit sooner.
Coupled with an earlier decree in which the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong stated, in no uncertain terms, that there was nothing stopping parliament from convening under the State of Emergency, the Rulers likely wanted the Prime Minister to give notice today to enable a sitting even before the State of Emergency ends.
Did Takiyuddin miss this?
Even if he was not sure, he should have had the decency to get in touch with Istana Negara to seek clarification from the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong before jumping the gun and issuing a press statement at the risk of insulting His Royal Highness.
The fact that the PMO issued a “statement laced with defence” that paid no tribute whatsoever to the Rulers’ earnest efforts towards a resolution for the country’s economic, social, political, health and education woes reeks of insolence and probable prejudice.
The fact that the PMO took 21 hours to issue the statement, long after several party leaders from government had issued theirs, goes a long way to demonstrate the brand of arrogance that has been the source of irritation and concern to the rakyat.
It is time Muhyiddin stepped down. Period.
WAJIB BACA:
