KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 16 – UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said it is important to have check and balance in any democratic government.

According to the Pontian MP, the Parliament and the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) are the highest order of democracy and denying it to convene will jettison the role of elected representatives to air the people’s woes.

“Getting your pay for nothing is not right,” he said on Twitter.

Therefore, he said there was no valid reason why the sessions must me suspended.

“I’m longing to debate, propose and ask questions in the Dewan Rakyat. Ministers must answer it accordingly, the right answer.

On March 3rd, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said there was still no need for a parliament session during the emergency period (11 Jan 2021 to 1 August 2021).

Meanwhile, on Feb 24, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah expressed the view that Parliament could convene during the emergency period with effect on a date deemed appropriate by His Majesty on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin of the Istana Negara also was quoted as saying the matter was enshrined in subparagraph 14 (1) (b) of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 which stated that Parliament should be called, proroged and dissolved on a date deemed appropriate by His Majesty. on the advice of the Prime Minister.

In this regard, Ahmad Fadil said the perception of some quarters that the implementation of the emergency proclamation prevented Parliament from sitting was incorrect.