PKR can advise govt on hybrid, virtual Parliament proceedings, says Nik Nazmi

PETALING JAYA: PKR can give the government free advice on how to run hybrid or virtual Parliament proceedings, says Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

The PKR organising secretary made the offer when boasting that PKR was the nation's first political party to conduct a fully virtual congress in the new norm due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We are the first political party to do so. If Parliament wants advice on how to hold a hybrid or virtual Dewan Rakyat sitting, then PKR headquarters is willing to provide our advice for free," he said when taking part in the virtual PKR 15th Congress on Sunday (June 20).

Nik Nazmi, who is also congress director, noted the party had to overcome several challenges when organising the virtual congress despite the little time to prepare for it.

He said the party had initially planned to hold a hybrid congress but was told not to go ahead with it by the authorities on June 4 due to the pandemic.

However, he said the Registrar of Societies allowed the party to go ahead with the congress but only if it was done virtually.

He said the party decided to go ahead with the congress as it had until June 30 to do so.

Meanwhile, Nik Nazmi reminded delegates to prepare for the coming general election, with party divisions told to set up offices in each constituency.

Last Wednesday (June 16), the Malay Rulers opined that there was no need for the country to be placed under Emergency past Aug 1.

The Malay Rulers had a special meeting at Istana Negara to discuss efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

There have been calls by several quarters and civil society for Parliament to convene either in a hybrid form or virtually and for the general election to be held when possible.

On Jan 12, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah decreed that the Emergency would be in force up to Aug 1 or earlier if the number of Covid-19 cases can be effectively controlled and brought down.