ON his very first day back in Parliament, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim gave Barisan Nasional MPs a taste of what they can expect.

He had hardly warmed his seat directly opposite Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's when he led opposition members in a walkout over the DNA Identification Bill 2008.

BN representatives must have been pleased to see the back of Anwar as they quickly passed the bill through the policy stage. But they should be warned this was only the beginning.

Anwar had hinted of what a thorn he would be in Parliament when, after being sworn in, he griped that the ceremony was not televised live.

Anwar's first day was an eventful one. He received a thumping welcome after the swearing-in.
He was, however, quiet during proceedings -- perhaps letting the fact that he is back in Parliament after a 10-year break sink in.

But things heated up when Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) stared at Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and asked if he was willing to refer the bill to a select committee.

(A select committee will collect more feedback from the public and interest groups to rectify any weaknesses in a bill, and later reintroduce it in Parliament for debate.)

"Just say 'Yes' or 'No'," he told Syed Hamid. The minister did not reply.

Syed Hamid had previously said the decision to refer the bill to a select committee was in the hands of the house, while Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin had ruled that the opposition could move a motion to refer the bill to a select committee after the minister had replied to points raised during the debate.

Anwar then led the walkout. In the lobby, he said the opposition had little choice.

"We walked out because the minister refused to respond, so there was no point for us to stay and participate in the debate."

Azmin vowed the opposition would give the government a tough fight when the bill is debated again at the committee stage after the 2009 Budget is passed.

"We will engage civil society and professional bodies and be ready to face them again."

Syed Hamid said the opposition's walkout was to politicise the issue.

"They know BN is united and they will definitely lose if they call for a division of the house (to vote)."

The house will convene today for the tabling of the 2009 Budget, after which it will break for six weeks.