Parliamentarians from both sides of the divide applauded Pandikar Amin Mulia for staying as the speaker of Dewan Rakyat.

 

The beaming speaker was greeted with parliamentarians thumping their tables as a sign of support, when he entered the august house, which started a new sitting today.

 

"Congratulations for staying on as speaker," said Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang) during the question and answer session.

 

"Do not resign and succumb to pressure," urged Mohamed Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) ( photo ).

 

"I sit at the top, I don't yield to any quarter," replied the speaker.

 

Pandikar admitted he met former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, but denied he said he would be quitting.

 

He said Mahathir had probably assumed he was quitting because of his disappointment with Parliament.

 

In Utusan Online yesterday, Pandikar was quoted as saying the meeting was between leaders to discuss what was happening to the country.

 

"But when he said the speaker wanted to (resign), maybe it was because I expressed my disappointment with the current Parliament sessions, which seems to always brings up petty matters," he was reported as saying.

The talk, which died down after Pandikar showd up at the Dewan Rakyat sitting today, was revived later in the afternoon by Mahathir.

Mahathir said Pandikar told him he resigned among others because he felt unrespected and embarrassed due the poor furnishings in his office.

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