Speaking today (Wednesday), House Speaker Wan Mohamad Noor Matha has defended his order to cancel the parliamentary sitting tomorrow, to select the prime minister, insisting that he has to wait for a ruling from the Constitutional Court on whether it will consider the petition from the ombudsman.

The ombudsman asked the Constitutional Court to consider a petition filed by two academics, challenging the constitutionality of parliament’s decision, by a majority vote on July 19th, to reject the renomination of Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime ministerial candidate.

Wan said he decided to cancel the sitting because he wants to avoid potentially serious consequences, which may befall the candidate were they to be selected by parliament.

He said that, if the court decides to consider the petition and orders parliament to suspend the selection process, the legislature will have to wait until there is a ruling from the court on whether the parliament’s rejection of Pita’s renomination under Rule 41 was constitutional.

If the court refuses to consider the petition, however, the House speaker said that he will order parliament to proceed with the selection process without delay, adding that he believes the court is fully aware of the importance of the case and the urgent need for the country to have a new government.

He also explained that the now cancelled parliamentary meeting tomorrow would have been inconvenient for many MPs and senators, who must return to their constituencies to participate in the ceremonies to commemorate the birthday of His Majesty the King.