88 Pakatan reps skip briefing at Parliament

In an apparent boycott, 88 of the 89 Pakatan Rakyat members of parliament failed to turn up at Parliament House this morning for a briefing session on seating, among other issues.

The lone person in attendance from the opposition camp was the DAP’s Bakri MP Er Teck Hwa.

"We practise democracy, those who come, come. Those who do not come, do not come,” outgoing Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia told a press conference after opening the session.

“I assume all who are absent have their reasons and will not imply that it is a boycott."

He clarified that attendance is not compulsory.

"This is mainly for new MPs. Senior ones should attend if they respect their place where they work, but we understand that some have reasons why they cannot come."

He pointed out, however, that their absence would make things more complicated for themselves.

They were to have placed their order for uniforms and apply for identity cards and other items at counters set up for their convenience today.

Er (right) later told reporters that he was there to find out about new parliamentary regulations.

Asked if he expects to be sanctioned for attending when the other Pakatan MPs were absent, he refused comment.

There was no official Pakatan pact to boycott the briefing.

BN MPs met after the briefing criticised the apparent boycott as being "disrespectful" of voters who had elected the Pakatan representatives.