With MCO now relaxed, Zahid asks when Parliament can reconvene

PETALING JAYA: With the country now under a more relaxed movement control order, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) wants to know when Parliament can reconvene.

Zahid pointed out that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had decreed that the Parliament session could convene during the Emergency proclamation, as the state of emergency was invoked to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Let's reconvene Parliament for the interest of the people and the country," he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (March 2) night.

The Emergency, which was imposed on Jan 11, saw the suspension of Parliament.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that the state of emergency was to aid the government to fight the war against Covid-19.

Selangor, Johor, Kuala Lumpur and Penang will be under conditional MCO from March 5-14, while six states – Melaka, Pahang, Terengganu, Sabah, Putrajaya and Labuan – are joining Perlis in a recovery MCO.

This comes following a drop in Covid-19 cases with inter-district travel being allowed in all states except for Sabah. However, interstate travel is still banned.

Kedah, Kelantan, Negri Sembilan, Perak and Sarawak remain under conditional MCO.

Tension between Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional has been on the rise, with calls to cut ties rife from certain veteran Umno leaders.

In another Facebook post, Zahid urged Umno and Barisan leaders to be wary of empty promises made by its rivals.

Without naming anyone, Zahid said its political foes had previously made empty promises of saving Umno and Barisan during campaign speeches.

"Those speeches, filled with pretense and hypocrisy, were well-received.

"The fact is that after we lost, Umno and Barisan were insulted, wronged and there were even attempts to wipe us out," he said.

Zahid also said that karma awaited those who won the general election with lies and slander.

He said when the 15th General Election comes, Barisan and Umno leaders must not be fooled by such empty promises.

"What we went through since May 9,2018, is enough. History makes us older and experience is supposed to make us more mature.

"Let's be united again. The country has to be strengthened before it's too late," he said.

Muhyiddin has said that Parliament would be dissolved and polls held once the Covid-19 pandemic is under control.