Malaysian monarch Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah on Thursday said he did not consent to the revocation of the country’s COVID-19 emergency ordinances, resulting in a clash with the embattled Prime Minister (PM), Muhyiddin Yassin, and those within his shaky coalition.
As per a news report by Asia One, in a statement issued by Indera Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, the Comptroller of the Royal Household, Sultan Abdullah said he had only consented to presenting and debating a proposal to revoke emergency laws in the Parliament.
“Article 150(2B), read together with Article 150(3) of the Federal Constitution, clearly lays the power to declare and revoke ordinances with His Majesty...His Majesty is extremely disappointed, as what was assented to and agreed on with (parliamentary and law Minister) Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan and Attorney General Idrus Harun during a virtual audience on July 24 was for the proposal to cancel the emergency ordinances be tabled and debated in Parliament. The revocation has not been consented to by His Majesty,” the palace stated. “His Majesty stressed that the minister’s statement in the Parliament on July 26 is not accurate and has misled the MPs,” the statement added.
The displeasure from the palace comes after the country’s de facto law minister, Takiyuddin Hassan, announced on Monday that the government would not extend the months-long state of emergency beyond August 1. The minister said that the Cabinet last week revoked and annulled the six emergency ordinances introduced during the emergency period that has been in force in Malaysia since January 12. In addition, Takiyuddin refused to clarify to the opposition whether the revocation was consented to by the royal palace by saying that he would answer related questions next Monday (August 2).
Meanwhile, the royal palace’s rare rebuke of the government has caused the Malaysian opposition to call out the PM’s “treason.” Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has filed a motion of no confidence and requested for the special Parliament sitting to be extended beyond five days so that the MPs could discuss important issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Simultaneously, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the biggest party in Muhyiddin’s coalition, called on the PM to resign. UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party regretted the government’s “treacherous action against His Majesty.” The palace’s reprimand of the Parliament has also caused Muhyiddin’s allies to call on him to quit.
In response to the backlash, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has defended its decision by saying it was in line with the constitutional provisions. The PMO said the Cabinet advised the King to repeal the ordinances before the special parliament meeting began. Whether the monarch’s rebuke will cause the administration to step down remains to be seen.
Malaysia Revokes COVID-19 Emergency Laws Without Royal Consent
Malaysian monarch Al-Sultan Abdullah said the parliament acted without his consent to annul the six COVID-19 emergency ordinances.
July 30, 2021
SOURCE: BLOOMBERG