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Annuar: No boycott, we left Dewan to 'speak to the media'
Published:  Jul 17, 2018 9:54 AM
Updated: Jul 20, 2018 10:56 AM

Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa has denied that the party’s MPs had walked out of the Dewan Rakyat to protest Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof’s swearing-in ceremony yesterday.

Instead, he said they had left to address the press.

“We had merely left (the chamber) to speak to the media,” Annuar was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

Annuar added that the party will not be taking disciplinary action against Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar for failing to join his party colleagues in leaving the chamber, as Umno practised an “open policy” towards actions by individual party members.

The Ketereh MP then went on to hint that Khairy had not joined the walkout as he had been absent from the party’s pre-council meeting on Sunday, where a response to the appointment of the Dewan Rakyat speaker had been discussed.

Yesterday, Khairy stayed in his seat as more than 60 Umno and PAS MPs exited the chambers of the Lower House.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told the press afterwards that Mohamad Ariff’s appointment had not been proper.

"What the government did in suggesting the speaker’s name did not follow the set procedures," Zahid had said, adding that he had proof that the new speaker’s name had not been suggested 14 days before the sitting - as per Parliament Standing Orders.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke maintains that the government had followed protocol by submitting Mohamad Ariff’s name on July 2.

'It's merely KJ's opinion'

Annuar also responded to Khairy’s stance that the walkout had tarnished Umno and BN’s image, saying that was Khairy’s “personal view”.

“We respect his view, which is his personal (view).

“Our view is consensual and involves all (BN) component parties,” Annuar was quoted as saying.

Khairy has explained that he had wanted to show respect for the Parliament and to prove BN was a credible opposition.

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