Malaysian King Opens Fifth Session Of 12th Parliament

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysian King Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Monday opened the first meeting of the fifth session of the 12th parliament. The official opening was also attended by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, other Cabinet ministers and members of the diplomatic corps. The Lower House of Parliament is scheduled to sit from March 13 to April 12, and the Senate, from April 23 to May 10. Tuanku Abdul Halim and Queen Tuanku Hajah Haminah arrived at Parliament Square at about 10 am. After the national anthem, Negaraku, was played, Tuanku Abdul Halim inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by four officers and 103 men of the First Battalion Royal Malay Regiment led by Major Amriza Mohd Ashaari. A 21-gun salute was also fired. This is the first opening of parliament by Tuanku Abdul Halim following his election as the 14th King in December last year. The Sultan of Kedah was also the fifth King from 1970 to 1975. -- BERNAMA