A day of firsts in parliament
NST (28/4/2008): The curtains go up on a much-anticipated 12th parliament when its first session begins today.
After members of parliament take their oath of office this morning, parliament begins its first sitting of 16 days.
For the second time in its history, Barisan Nasional will be without a two-thirds majority.
The first sitting of the first session is much anticipated because of many firsts and also rumours that the ruling coalition's MPs are waiting for "a signal" to cross the floor to Pakatan Rakyat.
Whether there's any truth to the rumours, or mere political gamesmanship by de facto Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is to be seen.
There are several historic firsts for parliament.
One: There will be a daily 30-minute live telecast of the question hour.
Information Minister Datuk Shabery Cheek promises more coverage if response is good.
Two: Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will be the first woman opposition leader.
Three: Two chief ministers of opposition-controlled states - Penang's Lim Guan Eng and Selangor's Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim - are members and both are expected to attend regularly as MPs and, of course, raise the house temperature.
Four: The speaker and his two deputies will be from Sabah and Sarawak.
Five: There will be a record 24 women MPs, with 10 from the opposition.
Six: Both the MCA president and Umno Wanita chief are not in the cabinet while the MIC and Gerakan leaders are not members of Dewan Rakyat.
Seven: There will be a record number of Indian MPs, 10.
Eight: A record 99 first-time MPs.
The firsts aside, daily house proceedings will likely be dominated by opposition veterans like Lim Kit Siang (Ipoh Barat), Lim Guan Eng (Bagan), Karpal Singh (Bukit Gelugor), Chong Eng (Bukit Mertajam), M. Kulasegaran (Ipoh Barat), Datuk Seri Hadi Awang (Marang), Nasharuddin Mat Isa (Bachok), Mahfuz Omar (Pokok Sena), Wee Choo Keong (Wangsa Maju) and Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Pasir Mas).
The opposition newcomers who are expected to sizzle include Azmin Ali (Gombak), R. Sivarasa (Subang), Tian Chua (Batu), Gobind Singh (Puchong) and Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Machang).
BN can count on its old hands like the irrepressible Datuk Mohamad Aziz (Sri Gading) and Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (Kinabatangan) and steady hands Datuk Nur Jazlan (Pulai) and Datuk Razali Ibrahim (Muar) to lead its vocal charge in the dewan.
Former ministers who are now backbenchers like Datuk Jamaluddin Jarjis (Rompin), Datuk Azmi Khalid (Padang Besar), Datuk Ong Ka Ting (Kulai) and Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz (Kuala Kangsar) will ensure that the 82-member strong opposition will not have it all its way.
Newcomers on the BN side expected to drive the BN agenda hard in the house include Khairy Jamaluddin (Rembau), Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi (Batu Pahat), Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir (Jerlun) and Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (Pasir Salak).
What does this new house arithmetic add up to for BN in terms of legislation?
BN can pass legislation without any opposition support as only a simple majority is needed to pass a bill.
However, it will need the support of the opposition if it wants to amend the constitution and chances are, unless absolutely necessary, BN will go the whole five years without attempting any constitutional changes.
So when the curtain goes up at 10am today, it will set the stage for colour, drama, action and a lot of shouting in the next two weeks.
But with 140 members versus 82 for the opposition, the ruling coalition can count on sheer numbers to impose its will in Dewan Rakyat.
After members of parliament take their oath of office this morning, parliament begins its first sitting of 16 days.
For the second time in its history, Barisan Nasional will be without a two-thirds majority.
The first sitting of the first session is much anticipated because of many firsts and also rumours that the ruling coalition's MPs are waiting for "a signal" to cross the floor to Pakatan Rakyat.
Whether there's any truth to the rumours, or mere political gamesmanship by de facto Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is to be seen.
There are several historic firsts for parliament.
One: There will be a daily 30-minute live telecast of the question hour.
Information Minister Datuk Shabery Cheek promises more coverage if response is good.
Two: Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will be the first woman opposition leader.
Three: Two chief ministers of opposition-controlled states - Penang's Lim Guan Eng and Selangor's Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim - are members and both are expected to attend regularly as MPs and, of course, raise the house temperature.
Four: The speaker and his two deputies will be from Sabah and Sarawak.
Five: There will be a record 24 women MPs, with 10 from the opposition.
Six: Both the MCA president and Umno Wanita chief are not in the cabinet while the MIC and Gerakan leaders are not members of Dewan Rakyat.
Seven: There will be a record number of Indian MPs, 10.
Eight: A record 99 first-time MPs.
The firsts aside, daily house proceedings will likely be dominated by opposition veterans like Lim Kit Siang (Ipoh Barat), Lim Guan Eng (Bagan), Karpal Singh (Bukit Gelugor), Chong Eng (Bukit Mertajam), M. Kulasegaran (Ipoh Barat), Datuk Seri Hadi Awang (Marang), Nasharuddin Mat Isa (Bachok), Mahfuz Omar (Pokok Sena), Wee Choo Keong (Wangsa Maju) and Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Pasir Mas).
The opposition newcomers who are expected to sizzle include Azmin Ali (Gombak), R. Sivarasa (Subang), Tian Chua (Batu), Gobind Singh (Puchong) and Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Machang).
BN can count on its old hands like the irrepressible Datuk Mohamad Aziz (Sri Gading) and Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (Kinabatangan) and steady hands Datuk Nur Jazlan (Pulai) and Datuk Razali Ibrahim (Muar) to lead its vocal charge in the dewan.
Former ministers who are now backbenchers like Datuk Jamaluddin Jarjis (Rompin), Datuk Azmi Khalid (Padang Besar), Datuk Ong Ka Ting (Kulai) and Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz (Kuala Kangsar) will ensure that the 82-member strong opposition will not have it all its way.
Newcomers on the BN side expected to drive the BN agenda hard in the house include Khairy Jamaluddin (Rembau), Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi (Batu Pahat), Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir (Jerlun) and Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (Pasir Salak).
What does this new house arithmetic add up to for BN in terms of legislation?
BN can pass legislation without any opposition support as only a simple majority is needed to pass a bill.
However, it will need the support of the opposition if it wants to amend the constitution and chances are, unless absolutely necessary, BN will go the whole five years without attempting any constitutional changes.
So when the curtain goes up at 10am today, it will set the stage for colour, drama, action and a lot of shouting in the next two weeks.
But with 140 members versus 82 for the opposition, the ruling coalition can count on sheer numbers to impose its will in Dewan Rakyat.
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