KING OPENS SECOND SESSION OF 12TH PARLIAMENT

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 16 (Bernama) -- King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin opened the
second session of the 12th Parliament Monday.

Tuanku Mizan and the Queen Tuanku Nur Zahirah were greeted
on arrival at the Parliament grounds by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi and his wife, 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.

The King 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 Lower
House of the Parliament accompanied by its speaker, 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