KUALA LUMPUR: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah is of the view that Parliament should sit as soon as possible.
In a statement today, Comptroller of the Royal Household of Istana Negara, Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said the king expressed the opinion after listening to the views of various parties.
"After weighing all views by political leaders, the Special Independent Committee on Emergency 2021 as well as experts and members of government agencies, His Majesty has expressed the opinion that the Parliament sitting must be held as soon as possible.
"This is to enable the Emergency Ordinances and the National Recovery Plan to be debated by the members of Dewan Rakyat," he said.
According to Ahmad Fadil, the king had also expressed hope for the daily number of Covid-19 infections to be reduced soon, adding that the vaccination process was the only "exit strategy" to curb the chain of infection in the country.
"Henceforth, His Majesty is of the opinion that the government must act firmly in reducing the bureaucracy and expedite the vaccination process to the public so that the 80 per cent herd immunity target can be achieved as soon as possible."
Al-Sultan Abdullah also said a stable, strong and effective government was needed in order for the country to recover from the pandemic, thus improving the nation's economy.
"His Majesty is well aware of the parliament's role as an important platform for elected representatives to sit to discuss various issues, especially matters related to the Covid-19 outbreak.
"Members of the Dewan Rakyat can discuss the allocation of government expenditure to help the people in need and to revive the country's economy," he said.
Earlier at noon today, a Special Discussion of the Malay Rulers with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was held at the Istana Negara for about two hours.
Present during the discussion were Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj, Regent of Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, Sultan of Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, Sultan of Kedah Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah and Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.
Today's Special Discussion of the Malay Rulers is the second held in less than two years since the country was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. The first was held on Oct 25 last year.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun and Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had also attended the meeting.
Also present during the special discussion were experts and members of government agencies who briefed the meeting on matters pertaining to health, security, politics and the national economy.