KUALA LUMPUR: Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has arrived this morning to open the first meeting of the second session of the 14th Parliament, here, today.
This is the first time the King is officiating the event, after being sworned in as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Jan 31.
He and his consort, Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, were greeted by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof and Dewan Negara Speaker Tan Sri S A Vigneswaran upon their arrival at 10.10am.
Sultan Abdullah and the Raja Permaisuri Agong were also welcomed by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
His majesty was then escorted to the royal dais and the national anthem 'Negaraku' was played, followed by a 21-gun salute.
The King then inspected a guard-of-honour by 103 members and six officers of the Royal Malay Regiment's First Battalion, under the command of Major Ahmad Safuan Jaafar.
After the ceremony, Sultan Abdullah was led to the Royal Chamber for a photo session before being escorted to the Dewan Rakyat to deliver his royal address.
The Dewan Rakyat will convene for 30 days until April 11 followed by Dewan Negara for 18 days from April 22 till May 9.