Sabah leaders welcome King's decision to allow Parliament to reconvene as soon as possible

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah leaders welcome the Malay Rulers’ decision to allow Parliament to reconvene as soon as possible.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who is also state Umno chief, said the decision shows that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as the head of state, has placed the parliamentary democratic system at the highest level.

In thanking the King for his decree, Bung also said this shows that the King prioritises and emphasises the supremacy of the Constitution.

He said this is in line with preserving checks and balances in the country.

Bung, who is Kinabatangan MP, urged all leaders to seize the opportunity in the coming parliamentary sitting and to lay out issues that have been long standing.

He said all leaders from both sides of the divide have a duty to restore parliamentary strength and to tell the rakyat that Parliament is where their voices can be heard.

He urged leaders to also put aside their political ideologies because it was now the time to revive the country from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Apart from allowing Parliament to reconvene, the Malay Rulers also said there was no need to extend the emergency beyond August 1 after a special meeting at Istana Negara on Wednesday (June 16).

Likewise, Luyang assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe, who is from Sabah DAP, welcomed the King’s views on this matter while hoping that state assembly sittings can proceed as well.

He said the King's decision to allow Parliament to sit shows His Majesty’s respect and emphasis on parliamentary democracy.

“I urge the state governments to follow suit by allowing state assemblies to sit with strict SOPs, ” he said.

Phoong said with state assembly sittings, leaders will be able to talk about pressing issues involving the people, the economy and the Covid-19 pandemic.