BN chief Zahid repeats call for Dewan Rakyat sitting during emergency

Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has again called for Dewan Rakyat to convene during the virus emergency, while hitting out at a PAS member of the Cabinet for saying that such a sitting would not be recommended to the Agong.

Zahid, the Umno president who heads the former federal ruling coalition, also urged BN MPs to press for a parliamentary session.

“The principle of rule of law must be upheld to allow Parliament to play its proper role of ensuring checks and balance,” Zahid said in his capacity as the BN chairman in a statement.

The statement comes at the end of a BN Supreme Council meeting tonight.

However, it did not mention BN’s stand on Umno’s decision not to cooperate with Perikatan Nasional in the 15th general election.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Takiyuddin Hassan defended the move to suspend Parliament sessions during the emergency, saying the government’s focus at the moment is on battling the Covid-19 pandemic.

Zahid today criticised Takiyuddin’s statement that the government would not recommend that the Dewan Rakyat convene, saying it was tantamount to challenging the Agong.

On Feb 24, Istana Negara issued a statement clarifying that the Agong could call for Parliament to convene on the advice of the prime minister.

“Therefore, the response of some that the proclamation of emergency stops Parliament from convening is not correct,” the Comptroller of the Royal Household had said.