KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 – The official opening of the first meeting of the first session of the 13th Parliament today had to be held indoors due to the haze, breaking from tradition.
Traditionally, the guard-of-honour would be mounted at Parliament Square, but this time around it was held at the Banquet Hall of Parliament House.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah and the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku, Hajah Haminah, were received on arrival at 10 am by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia and Dewan Negara President Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang.
Also on hand to greet the royal couple were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment reported that as of 8 am, Kuala Lumpur was among 17 areas in the country which recorded an unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) at 197.
The air pollution level is categorised as hazardous when the reading is 301 or more; very unhealthy at 201 to 300; unhealthy at 101 to 200; moderate at 51 to 100 and good at zero to 50.
Tuanku Abdul Halim and Tuanku Hajah Haminah were later accompanied to the Banquet Hall. The king took the salute, with the guard-of-honour mounted by 103 officers and men from the First Battalion Royal Malay Regiment.
The king did not inspect the guard-of-honour as is the traditional practice. As the bell sounded at 10.50 am, Tuanku Abdul Halim and Tuanku Hajah Haminah were led into the Dewan Rakyat for the king to deliver the royal address.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife, Puan Seri Noorainee Abdul Rahman, Cabinet ministers and members of the diplomatic corps.
The Dewan Rakyat will sit for 16 days between now and July 18 and the Dewan Negara, between July 22 and Aug 1.
– BERNAMA
