Perikatan govt still intact with support of 110 MPs, says Ismail Sabri

KUALA LUMPUR: The Perikatan Nasional government is still intact as it enjoys the support of more than 110 MPs, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said the political situation in the country is too volatile at present, and it could undermine efforts to address the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic stagnation.

"I want to stress here that the government still enjoys the support of more than 110 MPs, who are still with the government of the day.

"Therefore, I hope the people will be calm in facing this situation and let's hope for this political impasse to end immediately," he said in a statement on Thursday (July 29).

Earlier, Istana Negara rebuked the Perikatan government for contravening the Constitution when it revoked the Emergency Ordinance.

On Thursday (July 29), a statement by the Istana Negara said the King had expressed great disappointment with the government's decision to revoke six Emergency Ordinances without his consent.

The King also expressed dismay that the revocation of the Ordinances was not presented in Parliament by the government.

Shortly after Istana Negara’s statement, Parliament announced the first adjournment of 15 minutes at 12.30pm, the second adjournment of 1.5 hours at 1pm, and the third adjournment of 1.5 hours at 2.30pm.

The fourth adjournment was announced at 3.30pm, where the special sitting resumed at 5.15pm later, as everyone present in Parliament must undergo a Covid-19 screening after two cases were detected.

The five-day special sitting that began on Monday (July 26) will adjourn until next Monday (Aug 2).

Opposition and Umno MPs have since called for Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to resign as Prime Minister in order to solve the political impasse.