Ku Li wants cabinet to resign after ‘unforgivable lie’ on ordinances

Ku Li wants cabinet to resign after ‘unforgivable lie’ on ordinances

Umno MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has condemned the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government for “lying” about having revoked the emergency ordinances and urged it to resign.

He called for the ongoing special Dewan Rakyat sitting to be extended beyond the original five days to allow MPs like himself to debate and vote on the ordinances.

This, he said, was in line with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s wishes on the matter.

“Tuanku is of the view that we (MPs) should discuss this matter as soon as possible and determine whether they should be passed or annulled.

“Therefore, it is best if this is done over, and this ongoing parliament sitting is extended so that MPs have a chance to voice the rakyat’s opinion about what is good or bad about the ordinances that are in force now,” he said last night in a press conference that was broadcasted on Facebook.

The veteran Gua Musang lawmaker regretted how PN had upset the Agong.

“Not only was this an unforgivable lie, this was also contempt on part of the government. I think this has angered the Agong,” said Razaleigh, who is a Kelantan prince.

Razaleigh argued that the power to revoke the emergency ordinances did not rest with the cabinet, but with the Agong. However, this was only when the Dewan Rakyat was not in session.

“But Parliament is sitting now. So let’s allow MPs and Dewan Negara senators to discuss, debate and decide whether they should be annulled. This is not up to the cabinet,” he stressed.

Constitutional crisis

On Monday, de facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan sprang a surprise on the Dewan Rakyat when he claimed that cabinet had revoked all emergency ordinances five days prior.

Three days later, Istana Negara said the Agong had yet to assent to any revocation and was “very disappointed” that the minister had “misled” the august House.

The Agong was also upset that Takiyuddin and attorney-general Idrus Harun failed to uphold their promise to have the ordinances tabled and debated in Parliament.

In response, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) maintained that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had already advised the Agong to revoke the ordinances and His Majesty was constitutionally bound to act on such advice.

Some have commented that Malaysia is presently facing a constitutional crisis.

Let Agong decide on new govt

Razaleigh opined that Muhyiddin and his cabinet ought to step down over the conundrum.

He also proposed allowing the Agong to decide the next government.

“To me, not only should the law minister take responsibility for this, but the entire cabinet as well.

“Since there is no certainty from the government, I propose that with Istana Negara’s statement, the PM and his ministers should resign and step down from governing the country. And hand the power back to the Agong.

“By removing these barriers, let us allow the Agong to decide the future of the country. Maybe the economic situation will improve and maybe there will be new strategies to end the Covid-19 pandemic which has threatened the rakyat’s safety.”