PMO: Muhyiddin is carrying out his duties based on the Constitution

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is of the view that all actions taken in relation to the revocation of the Emergency Ordinances (EO) were done in accordance with the Federal Constitution and the rule of law, says the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

In a statement today, the PMO said that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had emphasised that in carrying out all of his duties, it is important for him to act based on the Constitution and the rule of law.

“Therefore, the Prime Minister advised the rakyat to remain calm and InsyaAllah this issue will be resolved based on the Constitution and the rule of law,” said the PMO.

The PMO statement was released following the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah expressing disappointment with the government’s decision to revoke six Emergency Ordinances without his consent.

In a statement issued by Istana Negara, the King had also expressed dismay that the revocation of the ordinances was not presented in Parliament by the government.

The PMO said that the government remained committed to uphold the views of His Majesty and the Malay Rulers as expressed during the special meeting on June 16, which among others had noted that the Emergency should not be extended beyond Aug 1 and that the parliament should reconvene as soon as possible.

“Based on the views, the government had decided to hold the special Parliament sitting starting from July 26.

The PMO explained that as a preparation for the special Parliament sitting, the Cabinet on July 21 had extensive discussion and made several decisions.

“Firstly, the special Parliament sitting received the approval of the King.

“Secondly, the Cabinet will not advise the King to proclaim an extension to the Emergency beyond Aug 1, 2021.

“Thirdly, because the Emergency was not extended, the Cabinet decided to advise the King to revoke all the Emergency Ordinances which was proclaimed throughout the Emergency was enforced,” said the PMO.

Following these decisions, the PMO on July 22 received a draft of the Emergency Ordinance (Repeal) 2021 which was prepared by the Attorney-General Chambers (AGC).

“This ordinance provides that all the Emergency Ordinances proclaimed by the Agong will be revoked effective July 21, 2021,” it said.

On July 23, the Prime Minister had presented a letter to the King to inform him of the Cabinet’s decision regarding revoking the Emergency Ordinances and to receive his approval, the PMO stated.

The PMO also took note of views expressed in the statement released by the Istana Negara yesterday, that it is fully aware that His Majesty must accept and act in accordance to the advise of the Cabinet as outlined under Article 40 of the Federal Constitution.

“Following that, the King on July 24, had summoned the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) and the Attorney-General for an audience to give a detailed explanation regarding the advise,” said the PMO.

When the special Parliament sitting began on Monday, all of the Emergency Ordinances were laid on the table of members of the Dewan Rakyat in line with the provisions under Article 150 (3) of the Constitution.

“However, the Opposition MPs had urged the Dewan Rakyat to annul the Emergency Ordinances promulgated by His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“Following this, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) as the minister responsible for legal matters had informed Dewan Rakyat members that the government, hereby the Cabinet, had made the decision to revoke the Emergency Ordinances,” the PMO statement said.

“It is a statement of fact intended to inform the Dewan Rakyat of the situation in a transparent manner,” it added.

However, the notification by the minister had raised questions regarding the status of consent from the King related to the Emergency Ordinance (Repeal) 2021, it further noted.

PMO explained that the Prime Minister then had an audience with the King on July 27 at noon to explain the situation.

During the audience, the Prime Minister again expressed the Cabinet’s advise regarding the revocation of the Emergency Ordinances and had explained the confusion which was created by the Opposition during the Dewan Rakyat sitting.

The Prime Minister also had informed the views of the government that all of the Emergency Ordinances did not need to be debated and voted in Parliament considering that the Cabinet had advised the King to revoke it, said the PMO.

“Aside from that, the special Parliament sitting which was conducted based on the Standing Order 11 (3) of the Dewan Rakyat, with the agenda of having ministerial briefings without any motions to debate the Emergency Ordinances.

“Therefore, the Cabinet has decided and advised the King to revoke the Emergency Ordinances before the special Parliament sitting,” said the PMO.