PAKATAN Harapan’s manifesto is not a “bible” that needs to be followed religiously, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today.

He said this after the government appointed former Court of Appeals judge Mohd Ariff Md Yusof as speaker instead of a sitting MP as promised in the manifesto.

“Please remember the manifesto is not a bible. It is (for) guidance. Sometimes we can do things, sometimes we find that we cannot. So we need to be practical,” Dr Mahathir said at the Dewan Rakyat lobby.

The 93-year old also said Ariff’s appointment was well-received by Malaysians even though it irked the opposition.

“The public like someone who is not related to the party,” Dr Mahathir said.

The Pakatan Harapan chairman also insisted that the forms for appointing Ariff were “prepared earlier” despite Barisan Nasional and PAS MPs saying it breached the Dewan Rakyat’s Standing Orders.

Opposition MPs staged a walkout earlier after Dr Mahathir announced Ariff’s name, accusing the government of failing to abide by a 14-day notice to submit the speaker’s name to Parliament.

As there was no other name nominated for the Speaker’s post, Ariff was immediately accepted as speaker by the Dewan Rakyat secretary.

Dr Mahathir said the stunt pulled by the opposition MPs was just for show and they wanted to create a ruckus on the first day of the parliamentary sitting.

“It is all for show (sandiwara). For the first time, the ex-prime minister walked out,” he said, referring to Najib Razak.

A pro-BN website, BN Portal, has already published an article saying Ariff’s appointment as speaker can be challenged in court.

Ariff is an Amanah member but has relinquished his party posts as disciplinary chief and advisory committee member, Malaysiakini reported. – July 16, 2018.