Amid increasing pressure to allow the parliament to convene this month, Malaysian Prime Minister (PM) Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday announced that the parliament would hold a special sitting for five days, from July 26 to 29, and a final session on August 2. In addition, the Senate will also convene for three days from August 3 to August 5.
Reuters reported that the session is expected to brief lawmakers on a national recovery plan. “All emergency proclamations and ordinances by the king shall be laid before both houses of Parliament,” a statement released by the PM’s office said. The sitting will also allow the legislative body to amend laws to conduct hybrid parliament meetings with virtual and physical attendance, the statement said.
The decision comes after the country’s monarch, King Al-Sultan Abdullah, made several calls to reconvene the parliament before August 1, which is the end of the state of national emergency. The session was demanded to facilitate discussion on steps taken to combat the health and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, the Muhyiddin administration also faced pressure from senior lawmakers of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the nation’s largest political outfit, whose support helps keep Muhyiddin in power. UMNO President Zahid Hamidi warned that if the announcement to reconvene the federal legislature did not come by July 5, his party would withdraw support from the embattled administration.
The Malaysian legislature’s last meeting was held in December 2020. In January, the king imposed a state of national emergency on Muhyiddin’s advice due to a surge in COVID-19 infections, thereby effectively suspending subsequent parliamentary sessions. Curbs on social activities have been relaxed in some states. However, the PM, whose government relies on shaky political support, has been accused of using the pandemic as a guise to continue staying in power. Some lawmakers within the ruling coalition have withdrawn support for the leader and called for early elections. Last year, Al Jazeera reported that opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim avowed that he had secured the majority necessary to form a new government.
Further fueling rumours of fresh polls, the New Straits Times reported two members of Yassin’s Malaysian United Indigenous Party (MUIP) claiming that the party president hinted at the “15th general election to be held either at the end of the year or early next year.” Johor deputy chief and MUIP committee member Mohammad Nasir Hashim has said that fresh elections depend on the COVID-19 situation in the country.
Whether or not this claim is valid will be confirmed when the legislature convenes later this month.
Malaysian Parliament to Convene On July 26 After Long Hiatus
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has announced that Malaysia’s Parliament will reconvene on July 26, after Umno lawmakers threatened to withdraw support over the long period of inactivity.
July 6, 2021
SOURCE: MALAYSIA'S DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION/AFP