“We will discuss with the prime minister to set the best date. However, the Agong has stressed that it should not be later than expected.

“We will try to convince the prime minister that a special sitting must be held before Aug 1,” he said in an interview with Utusan Malaysia.

This comes after Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun, his deputies Azalina Othman Said and Mohd Rashid Hasnon, Rais and his deputy Mohamad Ali Mohamad were summoned to the palace for an audience yesterday.

During the meeting, Rais said the Agong had expressed his wish that Parliament be reconvened in August.

Rais recommended that a special sitting be held, with MPs present in person, for five days and the rest taking place at the end of August, with 28 days’ notice given beforehand.

“So far, we have sent a letter to the Prime Minister’s Office. The letter gives him two options – to set a date for the special sitting or a meeting with the relevant parties to determine the date.”

After the audience yesterday, the Agong said Parliament needed to reconvene according to the guidelines and SOPs set by the government and Parliament.

In a statement, Comptroller of the Royal Household Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said this was to ensure that the emergency proclamation and its ordinances are debated in accordance with Article 150(3) of the Federal Constitution.

He said the Agong was also of the view that all parliamentary select committees should resume their meetings to ensure there was transparency, integrity and accountability in the government.