KUALA LUMPUR: Parliament will welcome back Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail after a seven-year absence when it reconvenes today.

The PKR president, who won the Permatang Pauh seat for the fourth time earlier this month after the disqualification of incumbent Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, her husband, because of his second sodomy conviction, will be appointed opposition leader for the second time.

“The results of Permatang Pauh by-election showed that she is much respected and has proven she is accepted by the people,” said DAP Ipoh Timur MP Thomas Su.

Dr Wan Azizah and new Rompin MP Datuk Hasan Arifin will take their oaths of office before speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, who on Saturday featured in the news for several hours after former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said during a forum that Pandikar Amin had quit.

Several hours later, the two-term speaker issued a statement that he was still in the chair and would preside at today’s meeting.

The highlight of the 16-day sitting is the tabling of the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Thursday.

Charting the economic development of all sectors, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar said last month the 11MP is expected to address poverty eradication and access to education and healthcare.

Putrajaya is expected to set aside RM250 billion to execute the plan, said research house TA Securities Research in its second quarter Traders’ Compass published early last month, a 8.6% increase from the RM230 billion allocated for the current 10th Malaysia Plan.

The controversy over 1Malaysia Development Bhd is also expected to be raised again in the Dewan Rakyat, especially since reports surfaced of the sale of land in its Tun Razak Exchange financial district to Lembaga Tabung Haji.

Meanwhile, PAS has not abandoned its ambition to implement hudud in Kelantan and has resubmitted a notice to table a private member’s bill.

This sitting will also see the Dewan Rakyat debate the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill 2015 and Evidence (Amendment) Bill 2015. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on May 18, 2015.