Anwar makes history as he joins wife, daughter as MP
KUALA LUMPUR: Incoming PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim returned to the Dewan Rakyat as an elected member after a lapse of three years.
This was the seventh time that Anwar took his oath as a member of the lower house of Parliament.
Anwar also created history yesterday, as Parliament now has a husband, wife and daughter serving as Members of Parliament at the same time. He will have the company of his wife, Pandan MP Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and daughter Nurul Izzah, the Permatang Pauh MP in the Dewan Rakyat.
Anwar’s return follows his victory in the Port Dickson byelection on Saturday in emphatic fashion.
The last time Anwar was a lawmaker in the August House was after he won the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in the 2013 general election (GE13).
However, he lost the seat after being convicted on a second sodomy charge in 2015.
Previously, Anwar was a fourterm Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh, from 1982 to 1998.
He also contested and won the seat in a by-election in 2008, as well as in the GE13.
On his return yesterday at the commencement of the second meeting of the first term of the 14th Parliament sitting, Pakatan Harapan (PH) lawmakers turned up in full force to welcome Anwar.
This included Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Home Affairs Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Cabinet ministers as well as other PH back benchers.
After the lower House bell was rung at 10am to announce that the Dewan Rakyat was convening, lawmakers took their respective places, and the ‘Doa’ was then recited.
The Lower House of Parliament then kicked-off the day’s proceedings with Anwar’s oathtaking ceremony.
After the eight Prime Ministerdesignate took his oath before Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusoff, a joyous rapping of tables rumbled throughout the August House.
“I congratulate Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Member of Parliament for Port Dickson, on taking his oath. I also congratulate Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for winning the by-election on Oct 13,” Ariff said in his welcoming remarks.
“Welcome back to the Dewan”, said Fong Kui Lun (PH- Bukit Bintang) as he kicked off the Question and Answer session for the day.
Anwar was given an immediate pardon by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V following PH’s victory in the GE14.
This was followed by Port Dickson incumbent Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah relinquishing his parliamentary seat on Sept 12.
Anwar won the by-election on Saturday with a 23,560 votemajority, which exceeded Danyal’s 17,710 vote majority in the GE14.