KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun says he is ready for Parliament to reconvene as he believes all the standard operating procedures (SOPs) are in place.
According to Malay daily Utusan Malaysia, Azhar said the government is the one to decide whether Parliament can sit, as outlined under Article 40 of the Federal Constitution.
“The one who convenes a sitting of Parliament is the Agong but acting upon the advice of the prime minister. If His Majesty consents after following the government’s advice, a declaration will be issued to call Parliament to sit.
“If it were up to us, we are ready any time for the parliamentary session in every respect, especially involving compliance with Covid-19 SOPs,” he said.
Article 40(1) states that “In the exercise of his functions under this Constitution or federal law, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall act in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet or of a Minister acting under the general authority of the Cabinet, except as otherwise provided by this Constitution; but shall be entitled, at his request, to any information concerning the government of the Federation which is available to the Cabinet.”
The country has been put under a state of emergency to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia, which is in effect until Aug 1 or until Covid-19 is brought under control.
Parliament and state legislative assemblies are not permitted to convene under the Emergency declaration, until such a time as decided by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
