King jokingly tells MPs: 'Sit down and don't run away'
KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat erupted in laughter this morning when Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V delivered a funny remark on the walkout staged by Opposition lawmakers yesterday.
The King cracked the joke moments before delivering his royal address during the opening ceremony of the 14th Parliament.
"Yang berhormat, please sit down and don't run," said Sultan Muhammad as he flashed a smile to the MPs, who burst out laughing in response to the King's quip.
Yesterday, opposition lawmakers from Barisan Nasional and Pas walked out of Parliament in protest over the appointment of former Court of Appeal judge Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof as the new Dewan Rakyat Speaker.
The MPs claimed Ariff's appointment did not follow the “point of order” and was a breach of house rules.
Their protests came to a head when Kota Baru MP Takiyuddin Hassan (PAS) interrupted the Dewan Rakyat secretary while she was announcing Ariff’s appointment.According to the Standing Order, he said, the nomination of any Parliament Speaker must be made at least 14 days prior to the start of the first Dewan Rakyat sitting.
Following this, all opposition MPs, including Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, walked out of the assembly in protest. Only Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin and Kimanis MP Datuk Seri Anifah Aman remained in the hall.
Ariff took his oath yesterday morning after his nomination was announced by Dewan Rakyat secretary Datuk Seri Rosmee Hamzah. No other names were proposed for the post.
The motion for Ariff's appointment was tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad and seconded by his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
The opposition MPs staged the walkout during Dr Mahathir’s tabling of the motion. Despite the brouhaha, Dr Mahathir smiled and continued with the tabling.
Dr Mahathir later clarified that the federal government submitted its list of candidates for the post of Dewan Rakyat Speaker on July 2.
He refuted claims that the appointment letter was signed much later and backdated to July 2, the last day to propose the candidates for Dewan Rakyat Speaker. © New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
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