Harapan calls for PM and his 'arrogant' cabinet to step down

Pakatan Harapan has called for the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Perikatan Nasional's (PN) "arrogant" cabinet after the premier's office defended his decision not to revoke the emergency ordinances through a vote in Parliament.

The Harapan presidential council expressed regret that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) last night said Muhyiddin had, contrary to the palace's statement, advised the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to annul the emergency ordinances even before the special Parliament sitting convened on July 26.

"The PMO response yesterday was arrogant and rude towards the head of state (king), and betrayed the Federal Constitution and parliamentary democracy.

"There is no other recourse for Muhyiddin, the entire cabinet, the Dewan Rakyat speaker, and the attorney-general besides resigning honourably over their huge error," the Harapan presidential council said in a statement today.

The statement was signed by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah head Mohamad Sabu, and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

The palace, in its statement, said de facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan and Attorney-General Idrus Harun failed to fulfil their promise to the Agong to have the matter debated in Parliament.

The palace said the Agong was "amat dukacita" (very disappointed) that Parliament was informed on July 26 that the ordinances were revoked.

It added that the Agong was also "very disappointed" with Takiyuddin and Idrus' conduct.

However, the PMO in a statement last night, defended the prime minister and stressed that the king had to act in accordance with the cabinet's advice.

The Harapan presidential council said a government that is no longer loyal or with good ties to the king will not last long.

Meanwhile, Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran in a separate statement called for Takiyuddin and Idrus to be publicly censured for misleading the Dewan Rakyat and "committing treason" against the king.

Kulasegaran said he had filed a motion for the Dewan Rakyat to censure the duo.