COMMENT | Is there a handy backdoor exit from Parliament?

COMMENT | Many Malaysians, myself included, read the news of the Dewan Rakyat proceedings held on July 26 with some bemusement, concern and consternation at the legal sleight of hand and artful antics displayed within the august House.

It has been reported that the federal government - via the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Takiyuddin Hassan - announced in the Dewan Rakyat that the government had decided, based on Article 150(3) of the Federal Constitution, to revoke the six emergency ordinances that had been promulgated during the proclamation of emergency.

The minister was reported to have gone on to say that the issue of annulment is therefore no longer relevant.

However, did the minister say, and mean, that the six emergency ordinances have been in fact quietly revoked as of July 21? Or did he say, and mean, only that a decision has been made to revoke the said ordinances?

This is entirely unclear. The minister has declined to answer questions in the Dewan Rakyat, relying on a ruling by the Dewan Rakyat speaker that the minister would respond to questions on Aug 1.

However, clarity on this matter has a vital bearing upon the...