KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is the coalition's members of parliament chief, will decide on how the bloc will vote on major legislation in the Dewan Rakyat.
Pas information chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin told the New Straits Times that Muhyiddin will also oversee all policy-related matters for the opposition bench in the lower house of Parliament.
"Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, as the new Opposition Leader, will take the lead in parliamentary debates and voice the opposition bench's views on matters raised in the Dewan Rakyat.
"This separation of roles will ensure that PN will be able to play the "check-and-balance" role more effectively," he said.
Although Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had invited PN to be part of his unity government, the coalition had insisted on remaining in the opposition bench.
On Dec 10, the coalition picked Hamzah as the new opposition leader. Muhyiddin was named the chief of PN lawmakers while Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang was appointed as his deputy.
PN also picked Pas secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan to be the opposition's chief whip and Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee was appointed as his deputy.
The announcement raised eyebrows as to why Muhyiddin took on a new role rather than serve as the opposition leader, which was conventionally held by the leader of the party or coalition with the largest number of seats in the opposition bench.
Some quarters also argued that Hadi should have been named the Opposition leader since Pas had more seats in Parliament than Bersatu. Of the 74 seats won by PN in the recent polls, two-thirds (49 seats) were won by Pas.
But, for now, all eyes are trained on the shadow cabinet that PN had promised to form.
Khairil, who is also Jerantut MP, said Hamzah will unveil the shadow cabinet line-up after the lawmakers are sworn into the 15th Parliament on Dec 19.
The coalition, he said, had finalised a framework for the shadow cabinet that will consist of several clusters.
"The shadow cabinet will also propose alternative policies, if necessary, in our efforts to be a constructive, collaborative, loyal and responsible opposition," he said.
Khairil also urged the new government to emulate the two previous administrations that allowed opposition MPs to head the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament for greater transparency and accountability.
