Swearing-in of Anwar will be the first order of the day

PETALING JAYA: It will be a very short wait for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to be sworn in as Port Dickson MP.

His swearing-in will be the first order of the day when the Dewan Rakyat convenes tomorrow.

After going on his rounds today to thank his constituents for their solid mandate, Anwar will make the short trip back to the federal capital to prepare to take his seat in Parliament.

Having been elected Permatang Pauh MP way back in 1982 (Anwar was Permatang Pauh MP from 1982 to 1999; and from 2008-2015), the former deputy prime minister is no stranger to the formalities involved in the august house.

“This is not the first time Anwar is marking his return to Parliament. He did so as the opposition leader in 2008 before his imprisonment in 2015.

“This time around he will return just as a backbencher,” said USM political analyst Prof Dr Siva­murugan Pandian.

He said despite being just a backbencher, the focus will be on Anwar to see how he conducts himself and the role he plays as an MP.

“While Anwar may voice his views on certain matters, he should avoid being critical of government policies but rather look at loopholes,’’ he added.

Universiti Utara Malaysia political and international studies senior lecturer Md Shukri Shuib said the PKR president-elect should not act as a “shadow Prime Minister.”

“He has to avoid creating any conflict and tension, but bring stability to the administration,” he said.

He said Pakatan Harapan must ensure a smooth transition of power between the two leaders or pay a price in the next polls.

“Sending the wrong signals could cause voters to regret their decision to vote Pakatan into power,” he said.

On Friday, Dewan Rakyat secretary Datuk Roosme Hamzah confirmed that the swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected Port Dickson MP was on top of the agenda when the Dewan Rakyat re-convened.

The last time Anwar participated in a parliamentary debate was on Budget 2015 in Oct 2014. He was imprisoned at Sungai Buloh on Feb 10, 2015, after failing in his appeal against a sodomy conviction.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V granted Anwar a royal pardon on May 16 this year, paving the way for his return to mainstream politics.