Several opposition MPs react to royal address
On the election results, the PAS Youth chief said: “We accept the general election results and that is why the opposition had come for the swearing-in (as members of the Dewan Rakyat on Monday).”
(Bernama) – Several opposition MPs reacted as though they were questioning the royal address of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, opening the first meeting of the first session of the 13th Parliament yesterday.
PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said His Majesty’s address “can be debated, disputed and objected to during the debate because the facts in the address are from the Barisan Nasional (BN) government”.
“In the practice of parliamentary democracy, the address of the (Yang di-Pertuan) Agong is not a directive; it is for debate. If it’s a directive, then there’s no reason to debate it.
“His Majesty makes the royal address based on a motion of the prime minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak); so we will consider it in Parliament and debate it,” Anwar, who is also Permatang Pauh MP, told reporters after the ceremony.
Among others, Tuanku Abdul Halim had urged all quarters to accept and respect the results of the 13th general election, as well as cooperate so that Malaysia can become a developed country by 2020.
When asked if the opposition would continue to hold rallies in protest against the results of the 13th general election following Tuanku Abdul Halim’s speech, Anwar said: “The speech was recommended by the prime minister.”
The MP for Bukit Katil (from the PKR), Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, said His Majesty’s address on the general election results was the stance of the BN government and the results could be challenged in court.
“It doesn’t mean they (election results) cannot be questioned at all in court and this is what we are doing,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tuanku Abdul Halim’s call for all quarters to work together and get rid of attributes which could cause disunity and find points of understanding to strengthen unity was well-received by Temerloh MP Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi of PAS.
He welcomed cooperation between the government and opposition as long as it was based on Islam and for the good of the people.
“Cooperation, as taught in Islam, would bring good, not something that would be detrimental or encourage hostility,” said Nasrudin.
On the election results, the PAS Youth chief said: “We accept the general election results and that is why the opposition had come for the swearing-in (as members of the Dewan Rakyat on Monday).”
Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli of the PKR, as director of the Blackout 505 rally, said he had no plans to proceed with the rally, adding that accepting the results did not mean closing what he described as election fraud.
Pasir Mas MP Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz of PAS said the government and the opposition needed to play a role in ensuring that the people and country were always progressive.
Ampang MP Zuraidah Kamaruddin of PKR welcomed Tuanku Abdul Halim’s emphasis on the importance of family institutions and women’s role in national development.
“Family institutions need to be strengthened, the relevant minister needs to take proactive measures to increase the use of women power in the country,” she said.
