All Cabinet members must be held accountable for violating Parliamentary democracy - Abim
30 July 2021
By Ilona Andrew
KUALA LUMPUR: The Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia - Abim) stressed that all Cabinet members of the Perikatan Nasional government should be held accountable for violating the principles of parliamentary democracy as well as the Constitutional Monarchy.
Its president Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz said the action of the government has ridiculed Istana Negara and the Dewan Rakyat.
He asserted that the statement issued by Istana Negara clearly indicated that the government led by Tan Sri Mahiaddin Yassin has ignored the principles of parliamentary democracy and does not respect the Constitutional Monarchy system.
"According to the doctrine of Ministerial Responsibility, there are several principles of 'Duty to act with unanimity' which means that all members of the Cabinet act as one voice to the public, Parliament and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
"Thus, ABIM stresses that the government's action has insulted the institution of the Palace, the Dewan Rakyat, and all Malaysians who uphold the principles of the Rukun Negara, is the collective responsibility of all members of the Cabinet," he said in a statement, today.
According to Faisal, holding all Cabinet members accountable is in line with Article 43 (3) of the Federal Constitution which lays down the principle of collective responsibility where all members of the Cabinet must be jointly responsible for all decisions and actions made by the Prime Minister as Head of Government, especially to Parliament.
"Therefore, in addition to strongly calling for the Prime Minister to step down with honour and dignity, we also urge all members of the Cabinet to take responsibility for violations of the principles of the Federal Constitution."
He also called the government to openly apologise to the people and re-establish the principles of Parliamentary Democracy and Constitutional Monarchy, especially with regards to the Emergency Ordinance.
