LIVE | We brings you live reports and streaming on the one-day Dewan Rakyat sitting from the entrance to the Parliament House.
SALIENT POINTS
- King touches on political crisis, tried to convice Dr M against resigning
- King: We are at war with Covid-19
- Anwar takes first seat in opposition bench, Dr M in the centre
- Unusual sitting arrangement
- Keep off the road - police warns reporters of arrest
Political polarisation a cause for concern, says ruler
10.40am - The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong expresses concern over the state of national unity.
"I am concerned by the existence of political polarisation, any provocation or values that go against our norms and laws must be contained before things worsen.
"I welcome the National Unity Action Plan to ensure the unity agenda can be inculcated," he says.
He also urges the government to secure the country's maritime borders and ensure equitable economic distribution.
King touches on political crisis, tried to convice Dr M against resigning
10.35am - The ruler then addresses the political crisis in the nation.
The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong says he accepted Dr Mahathir Mohamad's resignation with sadness and had tried to convince him against stepping down but to no avail.
He points out that after a process to establish who the MPs supported, he found that Pagoh MP Muhyiddin Yassin commanded the majority.
"The national political crisis cannot be allowed to become drawn out without an end.
“After the process in line with the Constitution, I found that Muhyiddin commanded the majority among members of the Dewan Rakyat and was therefore appointed as prime minister," he adds.
He thanks MPs and the people for their maturity in allowing the process to take place and urges Muhyiddin's government to be responsible, honest and not neglect the people's welfare.
King: We are at war with Covid-19
10.25am - The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong removes his face mask to deliver his address.
He notes the unusual circumstances of the sitting which, for the first time, is held during the Ramadan fasting month.
"At present, the country is waging a war against Covid-19...
“But we have faced this pandemic as a united Malaysia that is resilient and disciplined," he says.
The monarch praises healthcare workers and asks MPs to acknowledge their contribution.
The MPs rise and applaud the healthcare workers.
King and his entourage enter the House with face masks
10.20am - The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong enters the House donning a face mask. His ceremonial escorts are also wearing face masks.
The MPs rise as he walks in and takes his position. All MPs are also wearing face masks.
The lawmakers are separated from each other in accordance with the social distancing guidelines with regard to Covid-19.
Unusual sitting arrangement
10.20am - The seating arrangement for this sitting is unusual.
Based on the floor plan and photographs from the chamber, MPs are not allowed to sit together and must leave one seat empty between them.
This leads to some MPs having to sit in the public gallery.
According to the floor plan, the number of distribution of seats are -- 114 government MPs, 107 from Pakatan Hapara and one independent
Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Bersatu-Langkawi), on the other hand, finds himself in an unfamiliar part of the Dewan Rakyat.
For most of his political career, the 95-year-old politician sat on the right side of the speaker as prime minister.
Now, he is sitting at the rear in the "D block", almost directly opposite the speaker and behind the sergeant-at-arms.
His party - Bersatu - appears to be split across the floor, with most on the government bench and a handful on the opposition bench.
Anwar takes first seat in opposition bench, Dr M in the centre
10.15am - PKR president Anwar Ibrahim takes the first seat in the opposition bench as the new opposition leader.
Next to him are Amanah president pesident Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, former deputy premier Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.
Whereas Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as well as Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal, are seated at another table, in the centre of the House, seperated from Pakatan Harapan lawmakers but are part of the opposition bloc.
Mahathir's son and Bersatu deputy president Mukhriz and party Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman are in the same bloc as the former premier.
Bell rings, MPs summoned into the House
10.10am - The Parliament bell begins to ring, summoning all MPs into the House.
However, most MPs are already in the hall in anticipation of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong's speech to officiate the first Dewan Rakyat sitting since the infamous “Sheraton Move”.
By convention, Parliament sits for three meetings a year. The rule officiates the first sitting each year.
This is the first time the government has limited the siting to a single day due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The agenda, much to the chagrin of opposition lawmakers, has also been limited to a single issue, which is the ruler's address.
King enters Parliament buiding
10.00am - Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah alights from his vehicle. He is flanked by Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof and Dewan Negara president S Vigneswaran.
They observe the national anthem before making their way into the Parliament building. Minutes earlier, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had also arrived ahead of the monarch.
Dr M, Najib arrive
9.25am - Former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad arrives with his escorts.
He waves at the media from his black Proton Perdana bearing the number plate RIMAU 1925 but does not stop to speak with them before entering the Parliament compound.
Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak arrives five minutes later. Also spotted were other opposition leaders such as DAP sectretary-general Lim Guan Eng and PKR's Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Earlier, a team of 10 riot police arrived and advised the media to keep their distance.
Johari: 'Hopefully' a peaceful session
9.15am - Pakatan Harapan parliamentary whip Johari Abdul arrives. He rolls down his car window to greet the media.
Asked if he expects a peaceful sitting today, he replies, "Hopefully."
He, however, reiterates that PKR is unhappy with the parliamentary sitting agenda.
Keep off the road - police warns reporters of arrest
9.10am - Dang Wangi district police chief Mohd Fahmi Visuvanathan Abdullah repeatedly reminds the press to keep their distance from one another.
He tells them to stay off the road leading to the Parliament compound, failing which, they can be arrested.
Only RTM and Bernama personnel are allowed to cover the sitting from the media room, dubbed by reporters as the “dungeon".
9am - The media is kept about 300m from the gates of the Parliament building and are basking in the morning sun.
Parliament staff and MPs are streaming into the building.
Parliament sits for one day
The one-day Parliament sitting today will only see the opening address of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah.
The Dewan Rakyat convenes for the first time since the "Sheraton Move", a political coup that saw Perikatan Nasional (PN) ousting the Pakatan Harapan government.
Originally slated to be held from March 9 to April 16, the parliamentary sitting was postponed and shortened due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
PN aborted its plan to table four motions and two bills today after the Dewan Rakyat accepted a motion of no confidence filed by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
For the first time ever, close to 300 MPs and senators will attend the opening ceremony by observing social distancing.
Only the official media is allowed to enter Parliament to cover the proceedings. - Mkini
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