“Has the ruling administration not heard of an emergency sitting?” the former prime minister asked in a Facebook post.

Najib said that even if the government did not refer to the Standing Orders to have Parliament reconvened, the Emergency Ordinance could be used to call for an earlier sitting.

After all, he argued, the ordinance allowed the government to spend as they liked, increase fines to RM10,000 for those who flouted SOPs and enact the fake news law, among others.

“Yet, it cannot set aside the 28-day notice? Who are you kidding?”

The Pekan MP said there was no use arguing over the requirement needed to reopen Parliament.

“The main issue is whether you have sent the notice or not.”

Najib’s comments come a day after Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi issued the 14-day ultimatum to the government to reconvene Parliament.

Earlier today, former federal minister Shahidan Kassim took a veiled jab at Zahid, stating that a 28-day notice was required.

Last week, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said he wanted Parliament to reconvene as soon as possible.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had previously said Parliament can reconvene in September or October if the daily Covid-19 cases drop to below 2,000.

Parliament, which was suspended after the Emergency was announced in January, last met in December.

Under Standing Order 9(2)(a), the Dewan Rakyat speaker can do away with the 28-day notice in cases that are deemed to be urgent.

And in such matters, “the longest notice possible shall be given.”

In 2014, during Najib’s tenure as prime minister, the Dewan Rakyat convened an emergency sitting to call for a comprehensive probe into the downing of Malaysia Airlines MH17.