Agong opens Parliament sitting

KUALA LUMPUR: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Monday opened the first meeting of the fifth session of the 12th Parliament.

The official opening was also attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, other Cabinet ministers and members of the diplomatic corps.

The Dewan Rakyat is scheduled to sit from Tuesday to April 12, and the Dewan Negara, from April 23 to May 10.

Tuanku Abdul Halim and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah arrived at Parliament Square at about 10am.

After the national anthem, Negaraku, was played, Tuanku Abdul Halim inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by four officers and 103 men of the First Battalion Royal Malay Regiment led by Major Amriza Mohd Ashaari. A 21-gun salute was also fired.

This is the first opening of parliament by Tuanku Abdul Halim following his election as the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong in December last year. The Sultan of Kedah was also the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, from 1970 to 1975. - Bernama

Meanwhile, in his address, the King called on the people to pledge their undivided loyalty to the country while preserving, safeguarding and defending the supremacy of the Federal Constitution, MAZWIN NIK ANIS reports.

He said the rakyat must also refrain from engaging in acts that would compromise or jeopardise the sovereignty of the country or try to repudiate the sacrificies of the founding fathers.

"With respect to this, I hope leaders at all levels, intellectuals, the media and non-governmental organisations will assume a more effective role in promoting greater understanding and appreciation of the importance of national unity," he said.

The King said as Malaysia celebrated her 55th Merdeka and 49th Malaysia Day this year, all parties, particularly the younger generation, should strive to understand the history of the nation's independence which came about from sacrifices of the founding fathers.

He said Malaysia was fortunate and blessed with peace and prosperity even though the world was facing economic and political crises, adding the country was on the right track towards achieving the high-income and developed nation status under the leadership of Najib.

Tuanku Abdul Halim noted the Prime Minister had been rigorously implementing various initiatives and transformation agendas, to provide greater opportunities for the people to enjoy a better life.

"The voices and concerns of the people are not ignored. The manifestation of this caring attitude is evident in the implementation of various projects and programmes which brings benefit to the people, either monetary assistance or other initiatives to ease their financial burden and enabling them to enjoy a more comfortable life.

"People, both in urban and rural areas, can surely expect even more programmes and projects that would impact their lives positively," the King said.