PETALING JAYA,Jan 20: PKR president Anwar Ibrahim today defended the move by the opposition bench to call for a Parliament sitting during the emergency, saying it was done to ensure proper checks and balance during the period.

He said such a move was not “treasonous” as claimed by certain quarters, because the letter sent to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah did not question the proclamation of emergency, but was merely a request for a parliamentary sitting to be allowed.

“People are asking why Parliament is banned when kindergartens remain open. Why can’t the parliament sit concurrently with the emergency, it will be more balanced that way.

“When we ask the King for a parliamentary sitting, you say it is ‘derhaka’ (treason). The number of MPs who have written to the King are more than the majority that the prime minister says he enjoys.

“We are merely appealing to the King to order a Parliamentary session. We will accept any decision made in the King’s wisdom,” he said in a Facebook Live session today.

According to Anwar, the opposition had already pledged to put aside party interests to stabilise the administration. He said the opposition will also pursue its request for a Parliament sitting through the court process.

Separately, he said the Covid-19 issue was best discussed with a larger pool of medical experts, rather than going at it alone as is being practised by the current administration.

Anwar said he would also send three names to be part of the bipartisan independent committee comprising politicians and health experts, and would advise the King to end the emergency period earlier.

He added that the government’s instability, lack of majority and “no parliament” decision were signs that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had lost the confidence of the Dewan Rakyat.

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