It’s finally the first day of parliament under the new Pakatan Harapan government, and drama has already unfolded within the first few minutes!
Earlier this morning (16th July), lawmakers began arriving in parliament to be sworn in as members of parliament (MPs). Former prime minister Najib Tun Razak, was also in attendance this morning to be sworn in as the MP of Pekan, amidst the controversy surrounding his alleged involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.
Source: sumisha naidu | twitter
The 14th Malaysian Parliament will see DS Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as opposition leader.
This is the first time in history, Barisan Nasional MPs sit on the left side of the Dewan Rakyat. pic.twitter.com/8xrLimJGUQ
— BFM News (@NewsBFM) July 16, 2018
However, halfway through this morning’s proceedings, a number of MPs had reportedly walked out!
According to tweets from journalists reporting live from the scene, MPs from Barisan Nasional (BN) and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) began walking out of parliament in protest when former judge Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof was nominated as the speaker of the 14th Parliament.
UMNO, PAS MPs walk out of the house over the appointment of Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof as the speaker. pic.twitter.com/kdrLySW2fk
— Sumisha Naidu (@SumishaCNA) July 16, 2018
However, as groups of BN and PAS MPs walked out, a tweet from Muar MP and Youth & Sports Minister Syed Saddiq revealed that not all of them left the room, as former UMNO Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin and a former Puteri UMNO chief. UMNO member Anifah Aman was also among those who remained in parliament.
Among the few opposition MPs who didn't walk out: @Khairykj and Anifah Aman. https://t.co/7zND2Y7FUd
— Sumisha Naidu (@SumishaCNA) July 16, 2018
Hari pertama di Parlimen tetapi Ahli Parlimen BN & PAS dah keluar dewan tanda protest.
Bekas K.Pemuda UMNO (YB @Khairykj) & Bekas K.Puteri UMNO tidak keluar dewan. Mereka tidak tinggalkan kerusi walaupun didesak oleh pimpinan UMNO.They know the Youth more than all of UMNO. pic.twitter.com/FDqvEkzfPw
— Syed Saddiq (@SyedSaddiq) July 16, 2018
A screenshot that will go down in history. pic.twitter.com/NDY9IpatkG
— Sumisha Naidu (@SumishaCNA) July 16, 2018
Khairy Jamaluddin recently became more critical of UMNO since BN’s historic loss in the 14th general elections earlier in May this year, calling the party out for not listening to the rakyat and for causing racial stirs instead. He was quoted by The Star as saying,
“Since the UMNO elections ended, what is my party doing? Playing with racial sentiments, collecting donations for our former president and repeating it again.”
“We’ve received a knockout punch during the 14th General Election, but we are still deaf to the voices of the people.”
Now, let’s see what today holds for our brand new 14th Parliament for both the opposition and the ruling coalition!
Also read: Khairy Condemns Umno for Causing Racial Stirs Instead of Revamping Umno After GE14
