By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 10: The dissolution of Parliament today was to silence those criticising the government’s legitimacy, labelling it a “back-door government” and “kerajaan tebuk atap”.
Prime Minister Datuk Patinggi Ismail Sabri Yaakob said with the 14th Parliament dissolved, the mandate is returned to the people.
“The people’s mandate is a powerful antidote for the country to manifest political stability and create a strong, stable and respected government after the 15th General Election (GE15).
“This process is based on the parliamentary democracy system and constitutional monarchy as the cornerstone of government, since the country achieved independence.
“May the people use the power they have, to elect a government capable of continuing the implementation of the Malaysian Family Budget 2023, maintaining political stability, restoring and strengthening the economy as well as maintaining the harmony and unity of the multi-religious, racial and ethnic Malaysian Family,” he said at a press conference held in Putrajaya earlier this afternoon.
Ismail Sabri revealed that he had an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah yesterday afternoon (Oct 9) to get the latter’s consent to dissolve Parliament.
“In accordance with Article 40(2)(b) and Article 55(2) of the Federal Constitution, the King, has acted according to his discretion by granting my request, that the 14th Parliament be dissolved today,” he elaborated.
Ismail Sabri also called upon heads of state governments except Sabah, Sarawak, Melaka and Johor to take appropriate action, to dissolve their respective State Legislative Assemblies (DUN) to allow for state elections on the same date as the general election, although some states have already decided not to dissolve their respective state assemblies.
“It should be implemented simultaneously to ensure that the people are not burdened, in addition to the smoothness of the democratic process and to save costs.
“Meanwhile, the determination of the dates of candidate nomination day, and voting day and other related matters, are subject to the decision of the Election Commission (EC),” he emphasised.
The 14th term Parliament paints a gloomy picture of the country’s political landscape which saw a change of three Prime Ministers in the same term.
Initially, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition under the premiership of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad won the 2018 General Election after which it served as the government for 22 months.
PH was then toppled by the new Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin following a development dubbed the Sheraton Move, with the new coalition earning the ‘backdoor government’ title.
The political instability continued during Muhyiddin’s administration which saw MPs switch party support and forced Muhyiddin and his cabinet to resign on Aug 16 last year after holding power for 17 months.
After receiving support from the most MPs, Ismail Sabri was appointed by the King as the ninth prime minister of Malaysia, a position he has held since Aug 21, 2021. — DayakDaily
