Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah has urged Malaysians to believe in the separation of powers of the legislature, executive and the judiciary in his official address for the opening of the third session if the 13th Parliament today.

 

The Agong said separation of powers had already taken root in Malaysia is "in accordance to existing laws".

 

"Trust that nowhere is a better place than this blessed land of ours," he said.

Opposition MPs donned black today as a sign of protest against the imprisonment of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, which they say signalled the lack of judiciary independence. 

Anwar remains Permatang Pauh MP pending a pardon application to the Agong.

The ruler also asked all Malaysians to respect Islam’s position as the federal religion.

“I would reiterate that the position of Islam as the religion of the federation must be upheld and not be questioned,” he said.

“Differences of opinion on religious issues should be referred to the authorities and not be polemicised,” His Majesty added.