No urgency for emergency parliamentary session, says Azalina

PETALING JAYA: There is no reason to call for an emergency parliamentary session as petitioned for by the National Human Rights Society, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (pic).

“There is no urgency to do so, and I am not sure what their hidden agendas are, be it Hakam or Bersih.

“However, it is quite clear that these entities and opposition parties are in cahoots to seek power through the back door without demureness,” she said in a statement.

Hakam president Datuk S. Ambiga had petitioned MPs to call for an emergency parliamentary session and form a national government consisting of representatives from both sides of the political divide.

Among other things, the petition demanded that free and fair elections be held by the new national government within 18 months of its formation, that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission be given more powers, that laws curtailing media freedom be repealed, that the task force investigating 1Malaysia Development Bhd be independent and that there be a moratorium on the Goods and Services Tax.

Azalina said the demands were baseless, adding that the existing government was democratically elected and parties that were not happy with it must wait for the next general election.

“The Government has acknowledged that there are problems requiring attention, but it should not be held responsible for issues beyond its control.

“The fall of the ringgit is in line with regional trends, strong movements in global bond markets and capital outflow from the region, and is not driven by domestic issues,” she said.