By: Syauqi Jamil
KUALA LUMPUR: Albeit the tense mood surrounding the first Parliamentary sitting after the elections, The Yang di-Pertuan Agong today dropped a one liner that instantly flipped the mood.
Parliamentarians from both side of the divide broke in laughter when Sultan Muhammad V told the Dewan Rakyat members to be seated and not stage a walkout.
"Members of the House, please be seated and don't run," quipped the Agong as he put on a quirky smile while several Pakatan Harapan members thumped their desk as a show of support.
He said this today as soon as he arrived to officiate the Dewan Rakyat session.
On Monday, opposition lawmakers from Barisan Nasional and PAS had staged a walkout during the swearing in of the Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof.
This is due to them allegedly claiming that the process of appointing the Speaker wasn't in accordance with the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders.
During his royal address, the Agong told the lawmakers that the people have chosen and that all parties should accept the result of the general elections without having prejudicial and slanderous thoughts.
He also welcomed the new government's efforts to enhance transparency by fully disclosing its financial position as well as voicing his support on the move to abolish the infamous Goods and Services Tax (GST).
"In order to curb the rising cost of living, we support the move to abolish GST as well as to stabilise fuel prices and to extend the Bantuan Sara Hidup so as to ease the people's burden," he said.
