Agong: Parliament must be platform for unity, not division

Summary

• Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar urges MPs to uphold decorum in Parliament and avoid insults, slander, and politicisation of every issue.

• While noting improved behaviour, the Agong stresses the need for unity and accountability.

PARLIAMENT | The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has reminded MPs that the Dewan Rakyat is an honourable chamber for debating matters of public interest.

In his opening address in Parliament today, Sultan Ibrahim emphasised that it is not a place for shouting matches, hurling insults, or spreading slander.

“MPs must serve as a bulwark of national unity, not as agents of division among the people.

“Therefore, stop politicising every issue and refrain from prioritising only your party or group,” he said.

While commending MPs for demonstrating improved decorum in the last parliamentary session, His Majesty noted that some still struggled to abandon old habits.

“I don’t need to list the bad behaviour because I believe all MPs are aware of it and know how to conduct themselves appropriately,” he added.

Suspensions over poor behaviour

During the Parliament sitting in February last year, His Majesty issued a similar reminder and granted permission for the Dewan Rakyat speaker and the Dewan Negara president to suspend members who misbehaved for up to 14 days.

In July last year, Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal was suspended for six months after citing an “anonymous letter” containing unverified allegations against civil servants under the Prime Minister’s Department.

Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul later defended his decision in the October session, during which Wan Fayhsal was also barred from sitting in the gallery.

The following month, another opposition MP was ordered to leave the Dewan Rakyat after a heated verbal exchange erupted over using Chinese characters on signage.

Deputy speaker Alice Lau ejected Pendang MP Awang Hashim after he persisted in a verbal clash with Chong Zhemin (Harapan-Kampar).

Awang was again suspended for 10 days in December after failing to apologise for remarks insulting the speaker in a TikTok video, despite repeated requests, including through an official letter.

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