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Pakatan to Dr M: Don’t try to usurp Agong, Rulers’ authority

Pakatan to Dr M: Don’t try to usurp Agong, Rulers’ authority

PUCHONG: Interim Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should not pre-empt the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Council of Rulers by calling for a special Dewan Rakyat sitting.

In a statement by the Pakatan Harapan presidential council, the coalition reminded Mahathir that the authority to appoint a prime minister lies with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“The interim prime minister’s announcement to call for a special Dewan Rakyat sitting a choose a new premier is going against the authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which is clearly stated in Article 40(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution.

“Plus, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is scheduled to meet the Council of Rulers to discuss this matter. The presidential council urges all parties to respect the discretion and authority of our monarch on this matter,” it said.

Yesterday, Mahathir said that he would call for a special Dewan Rakyat sitting on Monday to decide on who would take up the premiership mantle.

He claimed that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was unable to determine who commands the majority support in Dewan Rakyat.

The Council of Rulers is scheduled to meet before Friday prayers today to discuss on how to resolve the current political impasse.

While Pakatan leaders have nominated PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to become the next prime minister, Muafakat Nasional is calling for snap polls.

By G Vinod