While Pakatan Harapan may have taken over the Dewan Rakyat with its 124-seat victory in the 14th general election, the Senate has remained dominated by BN.

Though it was supposed to have 70 members, currently the Dewan Negara only has 49 members - 40 of them are from BN, with the remaining nine members split among NGO representatives, Pakatan Harapan and PAS.

This is why Pakatan Harapan leaders have often called the Senate a "rubber stamp" that will approve any bill passed by the then BN-dominated Dewan Rakyat.

But now the dynamics has changed between the two Houses, providing a chance for the Dewan Negara to break its "rubber stamp" image.

Former senator Syed Husin Ali said this could herald a whole new atmosphere in the Dewan Negara, with senators becoming more active in debates.

"There was hardly any debate (in the Dewan Negara). We hope now there will be more debates, more serious appraisals by the Dewan Negara of what is passed in the Dewan Rakyat.

"It can now play a more effective check and balance role and not just be a rubber stamp," Syed Husin (photo) told Malaysiakini when contacted yesterday.

PKR Senator Mohd Nor Manutty said his party has always opined that the Dewan Negara should be reformed.

With regard to the new dynamics, Mohd Nor said it was likely that they would have a "special discussion" on this matter to avoid inefficiencies in terms of policies discussed in both Houses.

MCA Senator Ong Chong Swen said she would not object to whatever is passed by the Dewan Rakyat now "just for the sake of objecting".

"As a Malaysian and as a mature politician... if the policy that is proposed by the Lower House is beneficial to the public, I do not see why we will object for the sake of objecting.

"I am not speaking for all, but at least a few senators that I know, we all carry the same thought," Ong said.

More effective check and balance

She pointed out that a number of senators would reach the end of their terms within a few months, which will lower the number of BN senators and open up space for more senators from Harapan.

"I think that is the best, the most balanced senate you ever had, and then (Iskandar Puteri MP) Lim Kit Siang will not say it is a rubber stamp.

"If it is a rubber stamp, why are they so concerned?" she questioned.

Ong also said this situation would give rise to a more effective check and balance between the two Houses, as both sides would be more alert.

Not only will the Dewan Negara be more alert about bills passed through the Lower House, she said, the Dewan Rakyat would also be more alert when voting on a bill.

"Because they know if they do not do it right, we will be there.

"They will be more alert and they will make sure whatever they want to put forward, it makes sense," she said.

If the Dewan Negara were to oppose any of the bills, she said, the senators would have to have good reason to do so.

"If we oppose without reason, the whole country will ridicule us," she said.

Dewan Negara President SA Vigneswaran told Malaysiakini that they would wait for guidance from the cabinet before making any statements on this.

"I have sent the prime minister my congratulatory note on behalf of the Dewan Negara.

"We wait for guidance from the cabinet and then we shall make the necessary statement, if there is a need to do so.

"You must understand, this is an institution and... our allegiance is to the people and the country, that is the oath," Vigneswaran said.

All these senators and former senators all agreed that the new government cannot simply terminate senators before the end of their terms without amending the Federal Constitution.

They all stressed that every senator has to complete his or her term. According to the constitution, a member of the Senate cannot serve more than two terms, either continuously or otherwise.

The Dewan Negara is not affected by the dissolution of Parliament.