KUALA LUMPUR, 16 Feb 2009: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin opened the second session of the 12th Parliament today.
Tuanku Mizan and the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah were greeted on arrival at the parliament grounds by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah.
Tuanku Mizan then received the Royal Salute and the national anthem Negaraku was played by the Royal Malay Regiment central band from the Sungai Besi camp.
This was followed by the hoisting of the Royal Flag and a 21-gun salute was fired.
Tuanku Mizan then inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by four officers and 103 men of the First Battalion Royal Malay Regiment headed by Major Norhisham Kamar.
After inspecting the guard-of-honour, the King returned to the royal stage and received the Royal Salute for the second time, and the “Negaraku” was played again.
Their Majesties were then accompanied by Abdullah and his wife into the Parliament House.
At 10.40 am, the ceremonial bell was rung and the King entered the Dewan Rakyat accompanied by its speaker, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.
Abdullah presented the text of the royal address to the King for the opening of the first meeting of the second session of the 12th Parliament.
The House will sit until March 19. — Bernama
