KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 2 -- A group of seven non-governmental organisations have joined a growing number of court challengers against the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government's recourse to a nationwide state of Emergency, arguing that parliamentary consent is required to do so.

The group comprises Bersih 2.0, Suara Rakyat Malaysia, the Center for Independent Journalism, Aliran, the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia, and Save Rivers; their suit was filed by the legal firm AmerBON Advocates at the High Court here today.

Constitutional lawyer Edmund Bon who is acting for the group told reporters that this suit differed from others that had been recently filed against the Emergency Ordinance (EO)...