Khairy calls act ‘disrepectful’

KUALA LUMPUR: Khairy Jamaluddin has distanced himself from the Opposition MPs who staged the walkout in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, describing the move as disrespectful and said it would shed more bad light on Barisan Nasional (BN).

The former Umno Youth chief, who was one of only three BN lawmakers to remain in the Dewan, said he stayed because it was the right thing to do in respect of the proceeding.

“Although there are some dispute to the appointment, I felt that is not the way to protest.

“Everyone must respect the Dewan and the ceremony,” he said after the swearing-in ceremony yesterday.

“They can protest the appointment during the debate, after the officiating ceremony tomorrow, or through the Parliament’s standing order from Wednesday onwards.

“To me, it is better to respect the Dewan Rakyat ceremony and not do anything that can ruin BN’s image as an opposition.”

When asked what he made of his BN comrades who joined the mass walkout, Khairy said he would only speak for himself.

Whether his decision to remain in the Dewan would be seen as an act of rebellion and cost him his position in the party, Khairy said: “That I’m not sure. I did what I felt was right.”

Meanwhile, Kimanis MP Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said while he respected his colleagues’ decision to walk out, he personally did not see a need to do so.

Commenting on the Umno trio who stayed, former party president Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said it was up to the party to decide on what action to be taken on them.