Pakatan question King's speech, says can be debated

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the royal address by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah was delivered on recommendation by the Prime Minister and was open to be debated in the Dewan Rakyat.

“The speech from the throne, in a democratic convention, means what is suggested and recommended by the Prime Minister for a debate in the House. It is not an order,” the PKR de facto leader told reporters following the opening ceremony by the King.

“If it were an order from the King, there would be no debate. But the principle in a democratic convention is for debates to take place, not for orders to be made, " he said.

He said that all MPs were free to engage in reasoned discourse, criticise and rebuttal of the points made in the Agong's speech, which he claimed originated from the BN-lead government.

“The speech was recommended by the prime minister. (This is) standard practice. I used to chair the committee to recommend the speech to be read by the King, to be seriously recommended to the house,” said Anwar.

Anwar also said that it was unfortunate that haze was a major issue which was ignored in the speech. "The speech was probably submitted earlier. I think that is a major flaw in the speech. The government, particularly the PM must be aware it’s a major national crisis should have inserted at least a para for the speech from the throne."

The King in his speech today asked all parties to accept the GE13 result.

On Sunday, Anwar had told a press conference that Pakatan would continue to protest against alleged electoral fraud, one day after their Black 505 rally in Padang Merbok saw a poor turnout.

However today, PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli said that there were no more plans to hold further 'Blackout 505' style rallies at this point.

"This was the plan all along. That the rallies will taper off as we continue our fight through a commission of inquiry and our election petitions," Rafizi said.

However, Rafizi said that there are no guarantees that the 'people's sentiments' will not create further rallies. "I welcome the King's directive to accept the results but that does not stop us from questioning the weaknesses in the system.

Rafizi gave an example of a house being robbed.

"We can accept the fact our homes are robbed. But it does not stop us from seeking to bring the culprits to justice," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar defended the King’s speech, saying the Ruler speaks on the advise of the government, as stipulated under the Federal Constitution.

However, the Santubong MP said,”The speech is written by the palace but it does not mean that the King does not have his own mind... he alzo has something to say and has the power to feel and the right to think in his speech. The prime minister’s advise can come in many ways."

Wan Junaidi said that the Agong's speech is a timely warning for leaders not to destroy the country. "When you hold street protests, you may not be representing all of the people in your constituencies."

In relation the the speech, Bukit Katil MP Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said that he was disappointed that there was no mention of national reconciliation.