Parliament should debate issues raised by Malay Rulers - Kit Siang

The Parliament has been urged to set aside the first two days of its Budget session on Oct 19 and 20 to debate the statement issued by the Malay Rulers on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) yesterday.

The move was called for by DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, who said Parliament should set the two dates to debate the statement, which also touched on the rule of law and national unity.

“Parliament should set aside the first two days of its Budget session on Oct 19 and 20 to debate the historic statement of the pre-council meeting of the 239th Conference of Rulers as it encapsulated the three major concerns of all thinking and patriotic Malaysians – the RM50 billion 1MDB scandal, the parlous state of the rule of law and the frayed and fragile state of national unity in the country,” he said in a Press statement today.

“The Cabinet at its meeting today should agree to set aside the first two days when Parliament reconvenes on Oct 19 for such a national debate on a motion which could be moved by the Prime Minister himself, another Minister or by the Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail,” he said.

Lim also questioned if the government share the same concerns raised by the Malay Rulers.

“Do the Prime Minister and the Cabinet endorse this statement and share the worry of the Malay Rulers and thinking and patriotic Malaysians that if the issue is not wisely handled and allowed to drag on, it could jeopardise the country's economy and the livelihood of the people as well as threaten public order and national security.

“Can Malaysians expect a statement from the Cabinet on the Malay Ruler’s statement after the regular Wednesday meeting of the Ministers today?” he said.

The Malay Rulers’ statement was released by the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal, Datuk Seri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, after the pre-council meeting of the Conference of Rulers at Istana Negara yesterday.