KUALA LUMPUR – The Dewan Rakyat erupted in a shouting match today when a PAS lawmaker implied that Putrajaya had dictated the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s officiating speech in Parliament last week.
In his debate on the royal address, Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (Kubang Kerian-PN) also asserted that His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s speech text lacked emphasis on certain ostensible aspects of the Malaysia Madani agenda.
“It is a shame that (the king’s) address, which was provided by the government and presented to cabinet… does not mention how fairness is a core element of the Madani concept,” the PAS deputy president said.
Opposing the PAS politician’s statement, R.S.N. Rayer (Jelutong-PH) pointed to Standing Order 36(6) which stipulates that no member shall impute improper motives to any other member, claiming that Tuan Ibrahim had unfairly questioned the ruler’s decree.
“Saying that the royal address was supplied by the government is untrue and is an improper assumption towards the Agong,” DAP’s Rayer said, asking Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Alice Lau (Lanang-PH) to order Tuan Ibrahim to withdraw his assertions.
While Tuan Ibrahim pointed out that it is normal practice for the government of the day to submit a speech text to the Agong, who will then determine whether or not he will use the suggested words, Rayer insisted that the former environment and water minister apologise for his remarks.
“How do you (Tuan Ibrahim) know that the Agong accepted the speech text (from the government) or if the decree heard in Parliament was the one suggested by the cabinet?
“There is a possibility that Agong edited (the text).
“Retract your statement and apologise in this august hall,” he said while several other voices loudly proclaimed their support for both lawmakers on opposite sides of the aisle.
Similarly, Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor-PH) said that while it is true that the government provides a speech text to the king, it is incorrect to label the speech as coming purely from Putrajaya.
“The Agong’s decree is indeed presented by the government in cabinet but the moment the Agong accepts the text, it becomes His Majesty’s address, not cabinet’s. That is the decorum,” he said.
Subsequently, Lau allowed Tuan Ibrahim to continue his speech.
Her ruling was greeted by raucous cheers and claps from opposition backbenchers, some of whom were heard complaining that Rayer “does not understand” and is “making a fuss out of nothing”. – The Vibes, February 21, 2023
