# Leader of the Opposition (Malaysia)

The leader of the opposition (Malay: Ketua Pembangkang; Jawi: کتوا ڤمبڠکڠ‎) in Malaysian Federal Politics is a Member of Parliament in the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives). The leader of the opposition is, by convention, the leader of the largest political party in the Dewan Rakyat that is not in government.
When in the Dewan Rakyat, the leader of the opposition sits on the left-hand side of the centre table, in front of the opposition and opposite the prime minister. The Opposition Leader is elected by the minority party of the House according to its rules. A new Opposition Leader may be elected when the incumbent dies, resigns, or is challenged for the leadership.
Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system and is based on the Westminster model. The Opposition is an important component of the Westminster system, with the opposition directing criticism at the Government's policies and programs, proposing alternative budgets and legislations, give close attention to all proposed legislation and attempts to defeat and replace the Government. The Opposition is therefore known as the 'government in waiting' and it is a formal part of the parliamentary system.
Since November 2022, PN has been the largest Malaysian Opposition. Previously, the longest-serving Opposition Leader had been Lim Kit Siang, who served for a total of 28 years (from 1975-1999 and then from 2004-2008).

## List of leaders of the opposition of Malaysia

Colour key' (for political parties and coalitions):  PMIP/PAS  LPM  DAP  SNAP  PKR  PH  BN  PN
| # | Portrait | Leader of the Opposition | Political party | Political party | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Refs |
| # | Portrait | Leader of the Opposition | Political party | Political party | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Refs |
| 1. | | Dr. Burhanuddin al-Helmy (1911–1969) MP for Besut | | PMIP | 1959 | 1964 | 5 years |
| 2 | | Dr. Tan Chee Khoon (1919–1996) MP for Batu | | SF (LPM) | 18 May 1964 | 10 January 1966 | 4 years, 307 days | |
| 2 | | Dr. Tan Chee Khoon (1919–1996) MP for Batu | | LPM | 10 January 1966 | 28 May 1968 | 4 years, 307 days | |
| 2 | | Dr. Tan Chee Khoon (1919–1996) MP for Batu | | Gerakan | 28 May 1968 | 20 March 1969 | 4 years, 307 days | |
| Parliament suspended | Parliament suspended | Parliament suspended | Parliament suspended | Parliament suspended | 1969 | 1971 | | |
| 3. | | Mohamed Asri Muda (1923–1992) MP for Pasir Puteh | | PMIP | 1971 | 1973 | 2 years |
| 4. | | Lim Kit Siang (b.1941) MP for Bandar Malacca | | DAP | 30 January 1973 | 31 July 1974 | 1 year, 183 days | |
| 5. | | Dato' James Wong Kim Min (1922–2011) MP for Miri-Subis | | SNAP | 24 August 1974 | 30 October 1974 | 68 days |
| 6. | | Edmund Langgu Anak Saga (b.1936) MP for Saratok | | SNAP | 4 November 1974 | 4 November 1975 | 1 year, 0 days | |
| 7. | | Lim Kit Siang (b.1941) MP for Kota Melaka (1975-1978) MP for Petaling (1978–1982) MP for Kota Melaka (1982-1986) MP for Tanjong (1986–1999) | | DAP | 5 November 1975 | 12 June 1978 | 24 years, 6 days | |
| 7. | | Lim Kit Siang (b.1941) MP for Kota Melaka (1975-1978) MP for Petaling (1978–1982) MP for Kota Melaka (1982-1986) MP for Tanjong (1986–1999) | | DAP | 10 October 1978 | 29 March 1982 | 24 years, 6 days | |
| 7. | | Lim Kit Siang (b.1941) MP for Kota Melaka (1975-1978) MP for Petaling (1978–1982) MP for Kota Melaka (1982-1986) MP for Tanjong (1986–1999) | | DAP | 12 October 1982 | 19 July 1986 | 24 years, 6 days | |
| 7. | | Lim Kit Siang (b.1941) MP for Kota Melaka (1975-1978) MP for Petaling (1978–1982) MP for Kota Melaka (1982-1986) MP for Tanjong (1986–1999) | | DAP | 8 October 1986 | 4 October 1990 | 24 years, 6 days | |
| 7. | | Lim Kit Siang (b.1941) MP for Kota Melaka (1975-1978) MP for Petaling (1978–1982) MP for Kota Melaka (1982-1986) MP for Tanjong (1986–1999) | | GR (DAP) | 10 December 1990 | 6 April 1995 | 24 years, 6 days | |
| 7. | | Lim Kit Siang (b.1941) MP for Kota Melaka (1975-1978) MP for Petaling (1978–1982) MP for Kota Melaka (1982-1986) MP for Tanjong (1986–1999) | | DAP | 15 June 1995 | 10 November 1999 | 24 years, 6 days | |
| 8. | | Dato' Fadzil Noor (1937–2002) MP for Pendang | | BA (PAS) | 20 December 1999 | 23 June 2002 | 2 years, 186 days | |
| 9. | | Dato' Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (b.1947) MP for Marang | | BA (PAS) | 9 September 2002 | 4 March 2004 | 1 year, 178 days | |
| 10. | | Lim Kit Siang (b. 1941) MP for Ipoh Timor | | DAP | 19 May 2004 | 13 February 2008 | 3 years, 271 days | |
| 11. | | Dato' Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (b. 1952) MP for Permatang Pauh | | PR (PKR) | 30 April 2008 | 28 August 2008 | 121 days | |
| 12. | | Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim (b.1947) MP for Permatang Pauh | | PR (PKR) | 28 August 2008 | 3 April 2013 | 6 years, 201 days | |
| 12. | | Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim (b.1947) MP for Permatang Pauh | | PR (PKR) | 26 June 2013 | 16 March 2015 | 6 years, 201 days | |
| 13. | | Dato' Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (b.1952) MP for Permatang Pauh | | PH (PKR) | 18 May 2015 | 7 April 2018 | 2 years, 325 days | |
| 14. | | Dato' Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (b.1953) MP for Bagan Datuk | | BN (UMNO) | 18 July 2018 | 12 March 2019 | 238 days | |
| 15. | | Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (b.1960) MP for Bera | | BN (UMNO) | 12 March 2019 | 24 February 2020 | 350 days | |
| 16. | | Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim (b.1947) MP for Port Dickson | | PH (PKR) | 13 July 2020 | 24 November 2022 | 2 years, 135 days | |
| 17. | | Dato' Seri Hamzah Zainudin (b.1957) MP for Larut | | PN (BERSATU) | 19 December 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 76 days | |