King calls on govt to reconvene Parliament immediately, not to extend emergency

Malaysia’s King, His Majesty Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin during the special meeting of the Conference of Rulers on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Istana Negara Facebook.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 – Malaysia’s King, Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Mustafa Billah Shah and the Conference of Rulers have agreed that there should be no extension of the ongoing state of emergency in the country and it should end on August 1st as originally slated.

In a statement today, Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad said the special Conference of Rulers meeting at Istana Negara today also agreed on the King’s stance that the Parliament must convene immediately.

The Rulers, in supporting the stance of the King’s decree that the Parliament convenes immediately, said they too agreed that it was important to respect the check and balance mechanisms provided between the legislative, executive and judicial powers in the country to ensure transparency, integrity and accountability to the people especially in the administration of the country’s finances and expenditure.

At the state level, the Rulers also called for the re-opening of state assemblies. The meeting and assembly processes currently used by other countries that have successfully brought COVID-19 under control can be introduced and adopted in the country, they said.

The Malay Conference of Rulers meeting today followed the King’s meeting up with 18 political leaders of the country from June 9 to 15 to discuss the management of the COVID-19 situation in the country and also the ongoing State of Emergency.

The King and rulers from the country’s nine states, namely Perak’s Sultan Nazrin Shah, Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, Terengganu’s Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, the Yang di-Pertuan of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz, Kedah’s Sultan Sallehuddin as well as the Regent of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah and the Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, took part in a frank and open discussion amid an environment of mutual respect to address the problems of the people and the economic challenges facing the country.

Syed Danial said the Rulers were appreciative of the King’s approach of negotiating and being open to suggestions and listening to the concerns raised by the respective rulers and that they have in unison supported the recommended measures to bring the country into stronger footing.

They acknowledged the difficulties being faced by the people amid job and income losses, the continuing rise in COVID-19 cases despite the Emergency order in place and the political instability, among others.

They were of the same opinion that the people’s lives and livelihood must take precedence over all other matters, the vaccination efforts must be strengthened, and that people must be made to understand and support the vaccination programme and be cleared of any doubts or suspicions of hidden political agenda in the efforts taken.

They also shared the opinion that efforts taken to beat the COVID-19 must be inclusive, involve the various interested parties amid a mindset of being open to listening, learning and adapting to change, as well as improvising, and exploring new avenues that would convince and gain the full cooperation of people of different backgrounds.

The Rulers also said it was important to reduce the rising political tension in the country, as well to have a government that had the confidence and support of the majority of the people.

–WE

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