19 GPS MPs stay put while Umno, PAS MPs stage walk-out

MIRI: The 19 Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) members of parliament remained in the seats while their opposition colleagues from Umno and PAS walked out in protest against the appointment of the Speaker on the first day of parliament sitting after the May 9 general election, on Monday.

Sibuti MP Lukanisman Awang Sauni said they did not stage a walk-out after Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad proposed the nomination of former Court of Appeal judge Mohamad Ariff Yusof as the ninth Speaker of Dewan Rakyat (Parliament).

“This was the first time all 19 opposition MPs from Sarawak stayed together and proceeded with the oath-swearing ceremony,” Lukanisman said to The Borneo Post yesterday.

Dr Mahathir proposed the nomination of Mohamad Ariff as soon as parliament sitting begin at 10 am.

When the secretary of parliament read out the proclamation for his appointment, Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) MP for Kota Bharu Takiyuddin Hassan questioned the legitimacy of Mohamad Ariff’s nomination.

He cited parliament rules which state that the secretary had to be informed in writing of the proposed choice of Speaker 14 days in advance, which was not followed.

Lukanisman said the situation became a little chaotic when more opposition MPs objected to the proclamation, but the process of electing the Speaker, nevertheless, continued.

He said since this was the first sitting for the GPS MPs, they did not have to follow any other parties or the whip.

GPS MPs are sitting in the neutral block together with three ex-Umno MPs.

Three other Umno MPs also did not stage a walk-out.