The opposition walked out in protest not because we dispute the Pakatan Harapan government's choice of Parliament Speaker. Rather, it is crucial for us to highlight that the Standing Order of the Parliament 4(1) had not been followed. However, the opposition MPs who tried to raise a point of order about this were unfortunately ignored.

We are fully aware that if the opposition MPs raised the Standing Order only after the Secretary of Dewan Rakyat has declared that “the Speaker of the House is elected”, the ruling party will then say “it’s too late to raise the point of order and it should have been raised before the Speaker is elected”. Therefore, the opposition MPs have no choice but to walk out from the Parliament House as a sign of protest that the House procedures have not been rightly followed.

As DPM Wan Azizah had revealed on 10th July, PH only decided on the choice of Speaker at the last minute on July 9th so it would be impossible to allow for the 14-day notice period, which means the letter should have been sent on July 2 at the latest, by right.

While I am not a big fan of walk-outs, this sign of protest is important as the parliament is the highest body in our country and signals whether or not the new government will follow the Rule of Law in their governance.

We also want to send a message that future parliament sessions must follow all Standing Orders and that opposition MPs calls for point of orders should not be ignored.

WEE KA SIONG
Member of Parliament for AYER HITAM

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The following articles illustrate just how the PH government has mishandled the appointment of the Speaker including not allowing for the necessary 14-day notice, all in the span of a week:

9 July - DPM Wan Azizah: PH met on this day to finalize speaker selection. Mahathir will announce decision on 10 July or 11 July.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/433534

13 July: The New Straits Times reported that Mohamad Ariff is waiting for the official letter, and quoted him as saying that it would be issued latest by Sunday (July 15). 
https://www.thestar.com.my/…/former-appeals-court-judge-mo…/

14 July - Law Minister Liew Vui Keong claims PH submitted its candidate for speaker on July 2 (14 days before parliament commences) 
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/434224

15 July: Tun Mahathir announces name of speaker candidate. UMNO's Anuar Musa questions if speaker submission form was backdated.

16 July: Parliament starts

-MCA online-