The rising number of suicide cases is a concern that the govt should address quickly, says the Gua Musang MP

by ASILA JALIL / pic by BERNAMA

UMNO veteran Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (picture) urged the government to reconvene Parliament before the Emergency ends and called for the public to sign a petition to push for the reopening of the Parliament soon.

He said the King, with the backing of the Conference of Rulers, had asked for the government to reconvene Parliament sitting soon, but several parties questioned the call made by the King and, therefore, disrespect the views of the Rulers.

During his live press conference yesterday, the Gua Musang MP said he received written advice with regards to the constitutional laws in the country that stated the King and the Conference of Rulers can intervene in the matters that were discussed by them in their recent meeting and no individual can prohibit or limit the decisions made.

“Neither the prime minister (PM) nor the Cabinet has any powers in the constitution or any law, to fix a date, delay or intervene with the request of the Rulers.

“No one has the right to interfere in the affairs of the Dewan Rakyat which should be determined by its members, in terms of the matters and agenda that are to be discussed in the sitting arranged by them,” he said yesterday.

On June 16, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and the Conference of Rulers had met and asked for the Parliament to reconvene as soon as practicable.

The meeting among the Rulers came after the King granted audience to 18 political leaders, including PM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, to get their views on the best ways to manage the worsening Covid-19 pandemic in the country and the subsequent economic fallout.

Ku Li urged the public to sign the petition to push for the reopening of Parliament before the Emergency ends on Aug 1.

“There is no need to wait until October for the Parliament to reconvene. This (the Emergency) is no longer about managing Covid-19, but it is about controlling other matters that do not have anything to do with the people.

“I hope everyone can sign the petition and agree for the Parliament to reconvene soon, if possible by next month,” he said.

He added that the pandemic had battered the economy and affected everyone in the country, especially those who have lost their jobs to support their livelihoods.

The rising number of suicide cases since the beginning of the Full Movement Control Order (FMCO) is also a concern that the government should address quickly, he said.

“I also hope Agong and the Rulers can provide assistance to lessen the number of suicide cases and other issues the people are currently facing,” added Ku Li.

Recently, The Malaysian Reserve reported that the country should prepare for a rise in mental health issues during FMCO.

WeCare Allied Health Centre clinical psychologist Shazeema Mashood Saad anticipates further decline in people’s mental health during the period as they are burdened by the rising number of Covid-19 cases everyday and living costs.

Ku Li added that the people are also angry at the government for giving “unfair treatments” to individuals who have flouted the standard operating procedures during the lockdown.

“I hope it stops and the government will implement all the rules that they have introduced fairly,” he said.