COMMENT | We are challenging Ismail Sabri's advice to dissolve, not Agong

COMMENT | I’ve said this repeatedly but let me say it again. It has always been my position that we are not challenging the decision by His Majesty, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah to dissolve Parliament.

We are challenging current caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s request for the dissolution, which we say was done without cabinet support.

Now, why do we say this?

Umno’s support for the dissolution of Parliament can only count for about 17 percent of the MPs. 

Other political parties publicly disagreed with this decision, including Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional (PN). Assuming that all the Harapan and PN MPs oppose the dissolution, this would amount to 135 lawmakers - a clear majority.

There were a total of 80 ministers and deputy ministers in the cabinet, with only 29 ministers from BN. The health minister, Khairy Jamaluddin, had also publicly disagreed with the holding of the general election in 2022.

Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Faizal Azumu also publicly stated that Ismail Sabri (above) did not inform the cabinet about the dissolution. 

Yesterday evening, Messrs Hafarizam, Wan Mubarak and Aisyah have entered appearance for the defendants, namely Ismail Sabri, the government of Malaysia, and the Election Commission. 

They have also filed an application to strike out my originating summons. In essence, they are saying that the courts cannot entertain my challenge as the courts cannot look behind the dissolution.

Our stand is clear: we are challenging the advice given to His Majesty by Ismail Sabri, which is void under the circumstances explained above.

CHARLES SANTIAGO is incumbent Klang MP.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.