Some ordinances lapsed due to constitutional requirements: PM's info adviser
He noted that 97 out of 133 ordinances have already been placed in Parliament as bills
Prime Minister's Adviser on Information and Broadcasting Dr Zahed Ur Rahman has said several ordinances were not turned into law not by government intent, but because they lapsed due to constitutional requirements.
He made the remarks at a press conference at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room at the Secretariat yesterday (21 April), where he outlined the progress of various government initiatives.
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yeaser Khan Choudhury was also present in the briefing.
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Zahed said the lapsed ordinances would be placed in Parliament as bills following due process. "This is a normal constitutional process, and there is no reason for confusion," he added.
He noted that 97 out of 133 ordinances have already been placed in Parliament as bills. Of the remainder, 13 have been passed with amendments, seven repealed, and the remaining 16 will be tabled later.
Regarding the referendum, he said there is no need to turn a referendum into a law.
Responding to a question about an agreement with the United States, he said there is no possibility of cancelling it, adding that state agreements must be honoured, though discussions on their context can take place.
Regarding the vaccination programme, Zahed said 26 lakh children have so far been vaccinated, with a target of covering 1.18 crore.
He also said the government is working to reopen the Malaysian labour market and may consider taking loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), though it is not obliged to meet all conditions. Subsidies, he added, may decline as fuel prices rise.
An eviction drive is underway to clear illegal pavement occupations, alongside plans for rehabilitation, he said.
On Pahela Baishakh, Zahed said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has given the festival top priority. He added that discussions may be held with other countries in the subcontinent to explore the possibility of recognising it as a regional festival.
Speaking at the briefing, State Minister Yeaser Khan Choudhury urged the media to ensure accuracy in reporting and sought cooperation to curb misinformation and disinformation. He reiterated the government's commitment to press freedom and said weekly briefings on ministry activities would continue.
