KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — The federal Opposition has agreed on Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as its official leader, said Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
The Ketereh MP from Umno confirmed today that the Opposition parties reached a consensus on the eve of the first sitting of Parliament today.
“This was agreed upon in a meeting last night between all Opposition parties.
“Gagasan Sejahtera, through PAS’ secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, has agreed that the leader of the party with the highest composition should be the Opposition leader.
“That’s Umno, and our president is Ahmad Zahid, so yes, he is the new Opposition leader,” he told Malay Mail.
Other names that were previously tossed about for the post included PAS president and Marang MP Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, Takiyuddin, Umno’s Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin.
Following the results of the 14th general election, lawmakers from Barisan Nasional and its former components are sitting in the Opposition bench for the first time in the country’s over six decades of existence.
The three parties still in BN — Umno, MIC, and MCA — jointly have 57 seats in Parliament while the PAS-led Gagasan Harapan has 18 seats.
Former Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang from DAP previously offered his advice to Ahmad Zahid when it was first speculated that the Umno president would fill the role.
Lim said Ahmad Zahid needs to be honest and constructive to thrive in the unfamiliar post.
The post of federal opposition leader is of the same standing as the prime minister.
