NOW that the dust has settled on the Pakatan Harapan government and its ministers, the focus in the first meeting of the 14th Dewan Rakyat on Monday is, who will lead the largest opposition bloc, Barisan Nasional?

BN, which ruled for 13 uninterrupted election cycles, is expected to be led by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said International Islamic University Malaysia political science lecturer Dr Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar.

“Although, there was a suggestion for former sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin to be the opposition leader, I think it’s going to be Zahid.”

In the Westminster parliamentary system, the opposition leader is customarily the prime minister-in-waiting for the opposition.

And in BN’s case, said Tunku Mohar, that role is usually held by Umno, which has the biggest number of elected representatives.

“In the case of Pakatan Rakyat in 2013, PKR had only 30 MPs compared with DAP’s 38, but the informal coalition nominated Anwar Ibrahim as the opposition leader as he was their candidate for PM.

“But since BN has not had any arrangements with PAS or Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) yet, the opposition leader is likely to be Zahid. After winning the Umno elections last month, he will be keen to show he can lead the fractured BN coalition.”

Of the 222 parliamentary seats, PH has 116, comprising PKR’s 52, DAP (42), Bersatu (12) and Amanah (10), while the opposition comprises BN (54), GPS (19), PAS (18) and independents (3).

The rest of the seats were won by PH-friendly parties, namely Parti Warisan Sabah with eight, and one each for Sabah Star, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah, Parti Bersatu Sabah and United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation.

Peninsula’s Malay-centric opposition

For the first time since general elections began in 1959, opposition MPs from Peninsular Malaysia will comprise mostly Malay Muslims. With the exception of two MIC representatives and one from MCA, the other 69 are from Umno and PAS.

This segment is expected to highlight racial and religious issues in Parliament, said Penang Institute political analyst Dr Wong Chin Huat.

He predicts that PAS and Umno will likely focus on ethno-religious sentiments.

“The point to watch is if Khairy and the likes can carve out a different space as a catch-all opposition.”

Khairy, who lost to Zahid in the Umno polls, has indicated that he will be the “voice outside Umno” in Parliament.

And unlike in the past, Wong is expecting a more demanding row of backbenchers now.

“There are 73 government backbenchers (including Batu). Many will be critical of the government, which is good.

“If the parliamentary select committees are set up in time, the backbenchers will have the incentive to find their specialisation, with the hope that they are picked to join the front bench later.

“If individual merits gain currency over time, it will help PH move away from inter-ally disputes over front-bench job allocations.”

The former journalism lecturer said the Dewan Rakyat speaker will have the chance to be a role model for posterity by not coming from a political party.

“Otherwise, the office of the speaker could be seen as an extension of the government, and add to the inter-ally tension between PH parties.”

GST out, SST in

Although it is not yet listed, the PH government is widely expected to table the abolishment of the goods and services tax and Anti-Fake News Act.

This would be keeping PH’s manifesto promise to end GST, but it is unclear whether it will table the sales and services tax bill in the first meeting.

The Finance Ministry has targeted a RM17 billion SST collection when it comes into force in September.

The 6% GST Act was passed in 2014 and implemented on April 1, 2015. The Sales Tax Act 1972 and Service Act 1975 were abolished in 2014 to pave the way for GST.

Monday’s sitting will witness the highest number of new MPs in the Dewan Rakyat. Of the 222 lawmakers, 40.5%, or 90, are new, while 11 are former MPs.

It will begin with the swearing-in ceremony for MPs, and the election of a new speaker and his deputies.

The 20-day seating, from July 16 to August 16, will continue on Tuesday with the royal address.

By and large, the royal address is the policy document detailing the government’s intent, and what it seeks to do in the coming months until next March. – July 14, 2018.