PETALING JAYA: Pekan MP Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's prominent seating arrangement in Parliament shows that he is still the most significant force in Umno and Barisan Nasional despite having no title or position in the party, says Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang.

The DAP stalwart said Najib's second placing in the Opposition seats in the august house signifies that he is still influential in the party.

This is despite him resigning as Barisan chairman and Umno president to take responsibility for the coalition's loss at the 14th general election, Lim said.

“Otherwise, Najib would not have higher precedence in the parliamentary seating arrangement than the newly elected Umno leaders like vice-president (Datuk Seri) Ismail Sabri, secretary-general (Tan Sri) Annuar Musa, or senior supreme council member (Datuk Seri) Mustapa Mohamad,” Lim said.

The DAP veteran argued that Najib's seating arrangement was significant as it shows that Barisan MPs were not prepared to break ranks and hold the former premier accountable for the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

“It is very sad if Pakatan Harapan and Warisan MPs are the only MPs in the 14th Parliament who are prepared to perform their patriotic duties,” Lim said.

Commenting on Barisan MPs’ walkout in Parliament earlier Monday, Lim said it was led by PAS with Barisan MPs “tamely” following suit.

He acknowledged that Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin and Kimanis MP Datuk Seri Anifah Aman as the only Opposition lawmakers who stayed put.

The Opposition MPs walked out of the Dewan Rakyat after Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof was sworn in as the Speaker for the 14th Parliament.

They claimed that the appointment process was not transparent and a point of order was raised by Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PAS-Kota Baru) when Dewan Rakyat secretary Datuk Roosme Hamzah read out the motion proposing Mohamad Ariff as the sole candidate for the post of Speaker.