Harapan MPs reject proposal for opposition leader role in setting Dewan Rakyat agenda

Pakatan Harapan lawmakers have rejected a proposal to give the opposition leader a role in determining the Dewan Rakyat’s agenda.

Amanah’s Pulai MP Suhaizan Kaiat stressed that the opposition leader’s role is to provide checks and balances, while DAP’s Jelutong MP RSN Rayer derided such a move as “pointless”.

“The responsibility of governing the country lies with the government; it is the government that should arrange the agenda for parliamentary sessions,” Suhaizan told Malaysiakini.

On Friday, Wawasan Negara secretary-general Saifuddin Abdullah proposed granting the opposition leader a role in setting the Dewan Rakyat’s order of business and touted it as a move that will enhance democratic governance.

This was among his suggestions for more extensive consultation within democratic systems, which Saifuddin detailed in a column in Sinar Harian.

'Waste of time'

In his objection to the proposal, Rayer (below) claimed that opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin, who is also Wawasan president, has failed to present evidence-based arguments since taking up the role.

He pointed to the recent briefing on the royal commission of inquiry report on Tabung Haji, when PAS and Wawasan MPs walked out after Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul rejected their request to postpone the special sitting due to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s absence.

Rayer said Hamzah could have instead presented arguments to prevent the Tabung Haji controversy from recurring.

“Therefore, it would be a sheer waste of time to give the opposition leader any role in setting the Dewan Rakyat agenda as it would only play into the opposition’s tactics of delaying the Dewan Rakyat sitting and disrupting proceedings rather than contributing to anything constructive in the long run,” he opined.

This was supported by Amanah’s Hulu Langat MP, Sany Hamzan, who also questioned whether Hamzah (below) should be involved in determining the Dewan Rakyat’s agenda.

Sany cited three instances of the opposition walking out of or boycotting parliamentary proceedings.

These include a walkout by opposition representatives last year after failing to stall the Government Procurement Bill 2025 in Parliament, which passed its second reading by bloc vote.

In 2023, Perikatan Nasional MPs boycotted a debate of the 2021 Auditor-General’s Report after their objection to the debate was overruled.

Mixed reactions

In the Sinar Harian column, Saifuddin’s other suggestions include introducing practical consultation in schools, using consultation in political parties to select leaders and election candidates, and establishing consultative councils to advise government ministries and agencies.

He further called for the role of parliamentary select committees to be strengthened in the lawmaking process.

Previously, Free Malaysia Today reported that Saifuddin’s (below) proposal has received mixed reactions as Amanah secretary-general Faiz Fadzil rejected it while PKR’s Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim said it should be considered by a parliamentary select committee.

In his dismissal, Faiz hinted that the measure was unsuitable for Malaysia due to the opposition’s lack of maturity.

“Although countries such as the UK and Canada practise this, the opposition there is genuinely mature in carrying out its role as an effective check and balance,” Faiz said.

On the other hand, Hassan said such a change would enhance government accountability, although it would require amendments to the Dewan Rakyat’s Standing Orders.

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