Uproar in Dewan Rakyat over Agong's royal address

The debate session on the motion of thanks on the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat descended into turmoil today when several government MPs disputed Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man's remarks that the speech of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah had been prepared by the government. 

Tuan Ibrahim, PAS' Kubang Kerian MP, had voiced dissatisfaction with the fact that the aspect of justice, which he said was an important feature of the Madani government, was not included in the royal address. 

"The value of justice should be brought by His Majesty in Parliament, not only made available in documents outside Parliament," he said. 

"It should have been included in his speech as this was already formulated (by the government)." 

Jelutong MP RSN Rayer however said Tuan Ibrahim had made malicious statements and allegations against the Agong, and called for him to retract his remarks. 

"I have been part of the Cabinet before and all of us have been in the government. We know the procedures," Tuan Ibrahim replied.

"It is handed over to His Majesty but it is up to him whether to use it or not." 

In 2016, then Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang made similar remarks when debating the motion of thanks on the royal address, saying that Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, the Agong at the time, had only read the speech prepared by the government in expressing a desire for the incumbent administration to continue in order to realise the goal of making Malaysia a high-income country. 

Tuan Ibrahim said that generally speaking, the royal address was in fact prepared and presented within the Cabinet. 

Rayer and Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefli Ahmad then asked if Tuan Ibrahim knew whether or not the text of the speech had been amended. 

Dzulkefli, the former health minister, also stressed that the royal address was not the Cabinet's address, but rather what the Agong wished for Parliament. 

"Please retract," Rayer added. 

But Tuan Ibrahim said he would not do so, adding that his statement was understood by all of the MPs in the Dewan Rakyat. 

The chaos continued for more than three minutes before deputy speaker Alice Lau restored order in the House.