PETALING JAYA, July 30 (Sin Chew Daily) — Constitutional law expert professor Dr Abdul Aziz Bari says the Yang di-Pertuan Agong can sack the prime minister and the whole cabinet on the grounds the prime minister does not command majority support in parliament.

Dr Aziz Bari, who is also Perak opposition leader, told Sin Chew Daily this happened before in Perak in 2009 and Australia in 1975.

He said the Yang di-Petuan Agong can do so on the grounds the prime minister has lost the majority support, or is reluctant to be tested in parliament that he has majority support.

"If the PM does not have the majority support or refuses to prove his support, this is a very good reason for his removal."

He also said the prime minister had openly undermined the Constitution and the King has the duty to stop the prime minister from continuing to do so.

"His Majesty has the responsibility to ensure a good and stable government for the country. He cannot allow such a national embarrassment to continue to happen, as this has put the country to shame.

"The crisis started when His Majesty met with the Malay Rulers, opposition representatives and relevant officials.

"These meetings show that the system has been disrupted because the government has refused to allow the standing orders to proceed, including parliamentary sittings and no-confidence vote."

As for the second phase, Dr Aziz Bari said it happened when the Istana uploaded a picture of His Majesty urging the parliament to reconvene "as soon as possible" and the later removal of it, as well as talks His Majesty had declined request for an audience from the prime minister.

"In the past, convening parliamentary sittings was something very natural, and no sitting government had attempted to shut down the parliament.

"And now, we are at the third phase of the constitutional crisis!"