Don't run! Agong mocks walkout, leaves House in stitches

The House was left in stitches when the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V told the lawmakers not to run away before making his opening speech in the new Parliament session today.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please sit down and don't run," he said with a broad grin as he looked into the direction of the opposition MPs.

It was an obvious reference to the walkout staged by BN and PAS parliamentarians yesterday, to protest the appointment of Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof. 

The House immediately burst into laughter and the lawmakers from the ruling coalition in particular thumped the table to show their support.

Calls of "Don't run" and "Don't boycott" were heard from several unidentified lawmakers.

Opposition leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was seen laughing while former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak looked amused.

Sitting behind them, Rembau parliamentarian Khairy Jamaluddin appeared to have been touched by the ruler’s words and nodded in acknowledgement.

Khairy has faced criticism from his party for refusing to join the walkout staged by Umno and PAS.

The former Umno Youth chief had argued that a walkout was not the right way to protest the speaker’s appointment and that he wanted to respect the House.

Yesterday, lawmakers from BN and PAS walked out from the Dewan Rakyat during the swearing-in process of the speaker after their protest against his appointment went unheeded.

They said the appointment of speaker was not done in accordance with the Dewan Rakyat's Standing Orders, which stipulate that the House secretary should be notified of the chosen candidate 14 days before Parliament sits.

Aside from Khairy, former foreign minister Anifah Aman also chose not to walk out.

-Mkini