Parliament was strangely still today, and the seats largely vacant in the Dewan Rakyat.

opposition pakatan rakyat parliament walkout pc 140708 04 The often-busy speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, who typically has his hands full in controlling MPs, appeared relaxed and calm.

It was because all Pakatan Rakyat MPs staged a walkout after the speaker rejected their emergency motion to initiate a no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Action had been hotly anticipated this morning, after the emergency motion was moved last Thursday at the speaker’s office.

wan azizah However, Pandikar rejected the motion in chambers and informed opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR-Permatang Pauh, right ) this morning.

After unsuccessfully pleading with the speaker several times to allow the debate and to furnish a reason for the rejection, the PKR president called for the walkout.

Other parliamentarians erupted in shouts and fist-banging in both support and protest.

"Get out, get out. Go back home," jeered the Barisan Nasional MPs as their Pakatan counterparts made their way out through the carved teak doors.

lim kit siang 03 The boycott lasted past the lunch hour, following which Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) announced that the Pakatan MPs would not participate in the rest of the day’s sitting.

Dull and quiet

Suddenly the house turned deathly quiet and the proceedings became dull.

More than 100 bright-eyed students, who had entered the public gallery with eager looks, slowly began to look bored as Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Noriah Kasnon wound up on points raised on the Ninth Malaysia Plan mid-term review report.

ibrahim ali The sole dissenting voice was that of Ibrahim Ali (Independent-Pasir Mas) who was given almost indefinite time to speak his mind.

Only a handful of Barisan Nasional MPs remained in the chamber, while the rest were in the lounge engaged in conversation.

khairy jamaluddin Among those in the House was Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) - seated closest to the public gallery - who was checking email and reading Malaysiakini on his sleek silver laptop.

Neighbouring parliamentarians were checking their phone messages or reading documents.

Journalists in the media room savoured the unexpected break from the hectic routine - and there was rare peace in the lobby as well.

Parliamentarians will be back in full swing tomorrow, but events today affirmed that Pakatan MPs contribute to lively sessions.