Anwar can debate the 2009 Budget if he wins by-election

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 - Should Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim win the Permatang Pauh by-election, he will be able to debate the 2009 Budget that will be announced on Aug 29.

Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia gave this assurance today based on the fact that the debate would only commence in the next sitting which takes place after the fasting month.

"There is plenty of time for him to be sworn in. If not during this session, then there is the entire Ramadan period," he said.

He told the press that "in politics, anything is possible" to suggestions that the winner of the by-election could be sworn in the day after the Aug 26 polling.

He said that the Election Commission would have to inform him formally before he could liaise with the winner on a suitable time for the swearing-in and that it did not necessarily have to be done in the Dewan.

In a press briefing regarding media coverage for the Budget speech this morning, head of parliament administration Datuk Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria mentioned in passing that it would be a busy period due to the swearing-in of the Permatang Pauh MP, sparking speculation that should the PKR leader win the by-election, his first appearance in parliament would be during the prime minister's Budget speech.

Pandikar Amin also said that the opposition coalition would have to furnish him with a letter informing him of the selection of an opposition leader to replace Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who resigned as Permatang Pauh MP to make way for her husband.

"I received a letter saying Wan Azizah would be opposition leader back then and I will need a similar letter. Otherwise, I would have to decide it on my own."

However, the issue may be moot if Anwar delivers on his promise of forming a new federal government by Sept 16. However, PKR vice-president Azmin Ali yesterday said a new opposition leader would be decided on Aug 27, despite the fact that this parliamentary sitting ends on Aug 29.

-TMI