UMNO must work to establish an interim government and provide the leadership for a country in dire need, said Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

The Umno vice-president said there are three things the interim government could focus on, which is managing the country’s economy, the current health crisis and prepare it for the 15th General Election.

“Leaving the Perikatan Nasional is better and more strategic than turning one’s back on national interests in this time of crisis,” he said in a statement today.

The former Johor mentri besar said Umno cannot abandon the nation for PN when the government’s authority has been completely extinct.

He was commenting on the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) statement which said the government had acted in accordance with the legal provisions and Federal Constitution in revoking the emergency ordinances on July 21.

The PMO said the cabinet on July 21 decided not to extend the emergency upon its expiry on August 1, and following that, to advise the Agong to revoke all the related ordinances. 

“On July 23, the prime minister had informed the Agong about cabinet’s advice to revoke the ordinances, and urged the king to give his assent,” said the statement.

However, the Agong said that he was not informed of the government’s intention to do so and de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan’s announcement on the revocation had caused confusion among lawmakers.

He also said that Takiyuddin’s remarks in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday were inaccurate.

On Monday, Takiyuddin announced that the Emergency Ordinances had been revoked by the government effective July 21.

He said the decision was made in accordance with Article 150 (3) of the Federal Constitution.

Khaled said that the tenure of the interim government will end when the general election is held.

“Malaysia is in a constitutional crisis. The prime minister’s statement yesterday did not clarify the situation but will make it worse.

“Umno will not and should not be dragged into this conflict. Umno’s commitment from the beginning of its establishment, among others, is to defend the institution of the royalty.

“Any action that is not in line with this commitment is against the values, stance and struggle of Umno.

“Umno MPs must vote. To be with the King and the people or with the prime minister and PN,” he said in the statement

Khaled added that Parliament must continue to sit, freedom of the media and social media must be guaranteed, every government decision and expenditure must be tabled in Parliament in the interest of check and balance, and the function of the Constitution must be fully restored. – July 30, 2021.