FIERY Parliament session to be expected

The 13th Parliament, which will convene on Monday, is expected to be fiery, perhaps even more sizzling than the previous session, due to the increase in members of Parliament (MPs) from the Opposition bloc.

With 89 MPs from Pakatan Rakyat (PR), the public can expect to hear lively debates, especially on the recently concluded general election, which PR claims Barisan Nasional (BN) won due to fraud.

The topic of electoral reforms will surely be a test of maturity on both sides, to see if MPs can put their emotions aside and argue matters in a rational manner.

Apart from electoral reforms, debates on custodial deaths are also expected to create a stir in the Dewan Rakyat, with the opposition MPs aggressively pushing for the setting up of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), which had been recommended by a royal commission of inquiry in 2005.

However, the move was shelved due to opposition by the police, but the increasing number of custodial deaths has put the men in blue under scrutiny.

It was reported that several opposition MPs will be tabling a number of private members' bills, mostly revolving around the issues of electoral reforms and custodial deaths.

This session will see many new faces from both sides, with many of these first-timers trying to highlight causes close to their hearts and those championed by their respective parties.

Fresh faces from PR, such as PKR's strategic director Rafizi Ramli and DAP Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming, are expected to give more snap to debates, especially those involving economic issues.

Ong said that apart from the economy, his keen areas of interest include elections and education. "I hope to bring to Parliament my experience as an academic, a former management consultant, and someone who had studied in four different countries including Malaysia to make a positive contribution in these policy areas," Ong told theSun.

He said he is also looking forward to working with his colleagues Zairil Khir Johari, Steven Sim and Kasturi Patto from the DAP, and Rafizi, Sim Tze Tzin and Darrell Iking from PKR.

Zairil, who is DAP's Bukit Bendera MP, is excited to be in the halls of august house, following the footstep of his father, Tan Sri Mohd Khir Johari, who was an Umno stalwart and former education minister who served three prime ministers, including the late Tunku Abdul Rahman.

"I expect the session to be quite exciting as there is a stronger voice in Parliament from the Opposition.

"But my own questions will revolve around education and certain projects like the 1Bestarinet project which provides broadband in schools. There are loads of questions that need to be answered, like about the National Education Blueprint and Petronas."

BN Titiwangsa MP Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani said he would like the government to re-look policies to provide affordable housing for those living in the city who are struggling to find decent housing.

- theSun