Parliaments are the indispensable democratic institution. Where and when their ability to realize their essential mandate is constrained, the health of democracy itself is compromised. Legislatures in democracies perform unique functions of representation, legislation, and oversight. They are the institutional mechanisms that make representative governance real on a day-to-day basis.

COVID-19 presents both a crucible and litmus test for democracy. The announcement by Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin that the country's parliament would be reduced to an address by the king, with all but state media barred from attendance and no opportunity for debate, is a deliberate attempt to undermine the Parliament of Malaysia's essential functions.

While challenging, numerous parliaments now convene virtually. By contrast, the Malaysian government’s diminution of the parliamentary session to a single day at which no legislative business could be deliberated – even with regard to the critical issue of COVID-19 response and precautions – is an attempt to scapegoat the coronavirus for an unacceptable attempt to undermine parliamentary democracy.

This attempt by the Malaysian government to thwart a potential confidence vote under the guise of health  illustrates how the pandemic can erode not only the health of individuals, but of democratic institutions when citizens need them the most.

This obstruction of parliament in an attempt to thwart a potential confidence vote constitutes a frontal assault on Malaysian democracy and has deprived the people of their rights to representation, legislation, and oversight.

I hereby join parliamentarians and defenders of democracy worldwide and CALL FOR THE MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT TO RESPECT THE LEGISLATURE'S MANDATE.