Protests against the recent change in government without elections and calls for a no-confidence vote in Parliament against the prime minister are in no way disrespectful to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, 50 civil society organisations said in a joint statement.
Such freedom of speech is compatible with constitutional monarchy, they said, and even protects the people’s mandate.
The joint statement comes a day after PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said those calling for a vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin are being disrespectful of the Agong, whose powers under the federal constitution allow him to appoint a prime minister from amongst MPs “who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House”.
The groups said the provision of the constitution is not in dispute but added that the legitimacy of any prime minister was up to challenge by Parliament, by passing a motion of no confidence, by rejecting the motion, or by rejecting the budget (supply bill).
“When this scenario occurs, it does not mean that MPs are disrespectful to his majesty or the speaker of the House of Representatives.
“Instead, they show loyalty to the constitutional monarchy by ensuring that the people’s mandate is properly represented,” the groups said.
Muhyiddin was announced as the new prime minister by the Agong on February 29 and took his oath of office the following day.
His rise and the formation of a Perikatan Nasional government came about through plotting by his faction in Bersatu, ex-PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, Umno and PAS.
The ousted Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition is disputing Muhyiddin’s majority from amongst MPs and wants an emergency Dewan Rakyat sitting to test his support, but the sitting originally scheduled for March 9 has now been postponed to May 18.
Two nights of protests took place last week, at Dataran Merdeka and Sogo, where participants condemned Muhyiddin’s “back-door government”, calling it a betrayal of the people’s vote.
The groups said fair comment and criticism of the political crisis as well as peaceful assembly are also “perfectly compatible with and beneficial for constitutional monarchy”.
“This is because observation and accounts of these activities enables his majesty to better gauge and consider public opinion,” they said.
Police neutrality
They urged police to be neutral, adding that Muhyiddin’s appointment is still under dispute and could still be invalidated by the courts or rejected by Parliament.
“Until all avenues of challenge to his appointment are exhausted, his position must be regarded as not finalised.
“The police but should not take a partisan position on whether his appointment should be accepted.
“Politicising the police in the name of monarchy would be a great disservice to both the monarchical institution and the Royal Malaysian Police.”
The groups also urged authorities to stop investigations into 18 people for their participation in the two peaceful protests, and to “show empathy for citizens’ freedom of expression and assembly as long as public order is maintained”.
“An empathic police force is absolutely necessary for the nation to return to normalcy.”
The groups who signed the joint statement represent a wide range of causes, including Orang Asli, youth, Sabah and Sarawak groups, environmental activists., women, religious minorities and academicians. – TMI