Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad smiled as Umno and PAS lawmakers walked out of the Dewan Rakyat to protest the swearing-in of speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof on grounds that his appointment was against the Standing Orders.

The uproar from the opposition bench began when Dewan Rakyat secretary Roosme Hamzah informed the House that a letter from Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Ariff's appointment was received on July 2.