Muhyiddin and his Cabinet should resign, King can appoint interim govt - Ewon

30 July 2021

By Wartawan Nabalu News

KOTA KINABALU: The vice-president of United Kinabalu Progressive Organisation (Upko) Datuk Ewon Benedick reiterated his stand that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin should resign as Prime Minister along with his cabinet members.

Speaking to reporters, he said Muhyiddin and his cabinet clearly turned their backs on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in administering the repeal of the Emergency Ordinance.

The government was seen to have set aside the King's order for the Ordinance to be tabled, debated and decided in Parliament, violating the Federal Constitution and the Rukun Negara principles.

“The counter-statement of the Prime Minister's Office yesterday afternoon seems to give the impression that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has made a mistake.

"This has huge implications for the system of parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy,” he said.

He was accompanying Luyang Assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe to lodge a police report on Muhyiddin at the Karamunsing Police Station, today.

According to Ewon, the violation of the Federal Constitution and the Rukun Negara principle by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government would send the wrong message to the younger generation in the country.

On July 26, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan informed Parliament that the Emergency Ordinance had been revoked by the Cabinet effective July 21.

However, the dispute arose as the PN Government had not made any announcement regarding the cancellation, and had not even obtained the consent of the King.

Istana Negara then issued a statement of regret to the King regarding the government's announcement of the revocation and failure to implement the order that had been agreed during the previous meeting.

When asked about the solution to the country's problems today, Ewon who is also the Kadamaian State Assemblyman expressed his view that the solution started with the resignation of Muhyiddin and his cabinet members followed by the formation of an interim government.

“Muhyiddin and his Cabinet members should resign over their disobedience to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's order, violation of the Federal Constitution and failure to manage the country which is facing a health, economic and political crisis.

“After they resigned, we hand over the mandate to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to appoint an interim government comprising representatives of all parties in Parliament for a special period, specifically to address the health and economic crisis.

"When everything is calm, then elections can be held and the people can make the choice of government they want."