Leader of the Opposition (Malaysia)

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Leader of the Opposition
Ketua Pembangkang
کتوا ڤمبڠکڠ
Incumbent
Hamzah Zainudin
since 10 December 2022
StyleYang Berhormat
(The Honourable)
Member ofHouse of Representatives
Reports toParliament
AppointerDewan Rakyat
Term length5 years or less, renewable once (while commanding the confidence of the lower house of Parliament with General Elections held no more than five years apart)
By convention, is held by the leader of the largest political party in the Dewan Rakyat that is not in government
Inaugural holderBurhanuddin al-Helmy
Formation1959; 65 years ago (1959)

The Leader of the Opposition (Malay: Ketua Pembangkang; Jawi: کتوا ڤمبڠکڠ) in Malaysian Federal Politics is a Member of Parliament in the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives).[1] The Leader of the Opposition is, by convention, the leader of the largest political party in the Dewan Rakyat that is not in government.

When in the Dewan Rakyat, the Leader of the Opposition sits on the left-hand side of the centre table, in front of the Opposition and opposite the Prime Minister. The Opposition Leader is elected by the minority party of the House according to its rules. A new Opposition Leader may be elected when the incumbent dies, resigns, or is challenged for the leadership.

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system and is based on the Westminster model. The Opposition is an important component of the Westminster system, with the Opposition directing criticism at the Government's policies and programs, proposing alternative budgets and legislations, give close attention to all proposed legislation and attempts to defeat and replace the Government. The Opposition is therefore known as the 'government in waiting' and it is a formal part of the parliamentary system.

Since November 2022, PN has been the largest Malaysian Opposition. Previously, the longest-serving Opposition Leader had been Lim Kit Siang, who served for a total of 28 years (from 1975-1999 and then from 2004-2008).

List of leaders of the opposition of Malaysia[edit]

Colour key' (for political parties and coalitions):
  PMIP/PAS   LPM   DAP   SNAP   PKR   PH   BN   PN

# Portrait Leader of the Opposition Political party Term of office Refs
Took office Left office
1 Burhanuddin al-Helmy
(1911–1969)
MP for Besut
PMIP 1959 1964
2 Tan Chee Khoon
(1919–1996)
MP for Batu
SF (LPM) 18 May 1964 10 January 1966
LPM 10 January 1966 28 May 1968
Gerakan 28 May 1968 20 March 1969
- Parliament suspended 1969 1971
3 Mohamed Asri Muda
(1923–1992)
MP for Pasir Puteh
PMIP 1971 1973
4 Lim Kit Siang
(b. 1941)
MP for Bandar Malacca
DAP 30 January 1973 31 July 1974 [2]
5 James Wong Kim Min
(1922–2011)
MP for Miri-Subis
SNAP 24 August 1974 30 October 1974
6 Edmund Langgu Anak Saga
(b. 1936)
MP for Saratok
4 November 1974 4 November 1975 [3]
7 Lim Kit Siang
(b. 1941)
MP for Kota Melaka (1975-1978)
MP for Petaling (1978–1982)
MP for Kota Melaka (1982-1986)
MP for Tanjong (1986–1999)
DAP 4 November 1975 12 June 1978 [4]
31 July 1978 29 March 1982 [5]
10 July 1982 19 July 1986 [6]
8 October 1986 4 October 1990 [7]
10 December 1990 6 April 1995 [8]
15 June 1995 10 November 1999 [9]
8 Fadzil Noor
(1937–2002)
MP for Pendang
PAS 20 December 1999 23 June 2002 [10]
9 Abdul Hadi Awang
(b. 1947)
MP for Marang
9 September 2002 4 March 2004 [11]
10 Lim Kit Siang
(b. 1941)
MP for Ipoh Timor
DAP 10 March 2004 13 February 2008 [12]
11 Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
(b. 1952)
MP for Permatang Pauh
PKR 30 April 2008 28 August 2008 [13][14]
12 Anwar Ibrahim
(b. 1947)
MP for Permatang Pauh
28 August 2008 3 April 2013 [15]
26 June 2013 16 March 2015 [16][17]
13 Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
(b. 1952)
MP for Permatang Pauh
18 May 2015 7 April 2018 [18]
14 Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
(b. 1953)
MP for Bagan Datuk
BN (UMNO) 18 July 2018 12 March 2019 [19]
15 Ismail Sabri Yaakob
(b. 1960)
MP for Bera
12 March 2019 24 February 2020 [20]
16 Anwar Ibrahim
(b. 1947)
MP for Port Dickson
PH (PKR) 18 May 2020 24 November 2022 [21]
17 Hamzah Zainudin
(b. 1957)
MP for Larut
PN (BERSATU) 10 December 2022 Incumbent [22]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "www.parlimen.gov.my" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  2. ^ Hansard - 30 January 1973
  3. ^ Hansard - 4 November 1974
  4. ^ Hansard - 5 November 1975
  5. ^ Hansard - 10 October 1978
  6. ^ Hansard - 12 October 1982
  7. ^ Hansard - 8 October 1986
  8. ^ Hansard - 10 December 1990
  9. ^ Hansard - 15 June 1995
  10. ^ Hansard - 20 December 1999
  11. ^ Hansard - 9 September 2002
  12. ^ Hansard - 19 May 2004
  13. ^ Hansard - 30 April 2008
  14. ^ "PKR president poised to make history as first woman Opposition Leader". The Star. 20 March 2008. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2008.
  15. ^ Hansard - 28 August 2008
  16. ^ Hansard - 26 June 2013
  17. ^ "Anwar disqualified as MP since Mar 16, says speaker". The Malaysian Times. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  18. ^ Hansard - 18 May 2015
  19. ^ Hansard - 18 July 2018
  20. ^ Hansard - 12 March 2019
  21. ^ Hansard - 13 July 2020
  22. ^ Hansard - 19 December 2022