SARAWAK State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar is now the longest serving Speaker not only in Malaysia but also in the entire British Commonwealth countries.
Bawang Assan assemblyman Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh said Asfia has created an unmatched record as Speaker following the latter’s recent reappointment as the DUN Speaker for a two-year-period until 2025.
“I congratulate you on your recent reappointment as Speaker for yet another term of two years. Time flies. I was in your chair some 30 years ago as I was Speaker for three years from 1994 to 1996.
“As we all know; you are now the longest serving Speaker not only in Malaysia but also in the entire British Commonwealth countries.
“You may have created a world record for the longest serving Speaker in the entire world,” he said when debating the 2024 State Budget in the DUN today.
Previously, he said, the only one who served as Speaker in the entire British Commonwealth countries for more than 20 years was the late Tun Dr Mohamed Zahir Ismail. Zahir was the Speaker of Dewan Rakyat from 1982 to 2004.
“I recall that (the late) Zahir used to tell us that after 20 years, one can become a working dictionary for all the other Speakers to refer to.
“With your vast experiences and a wealth of parliamentary knowledge, you can be an even bigger parliamentary dictionary for all to refer to,” he said, referring to Asfia.
Asfia, 76, was first appointed as Sarawak DUN Speaker on Nov 15, 2000. Prior to that, he was the Deputy Speaker from 1995 to 2000.
His ninth term as Sarawak DUN Speaker took effect on Nov 16, 2023, after his eighth term ended on Nov 15, 2023.
He is a law graduate from Leeds University, England and obtained his Barrister-at-Law from the Inner Temple, London.
Subsequently, he obtained an advanced degree in Port and Shipping Management from the University of Wales, Cardiff.
He had also served as a legal adviser to the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation from 1974 to 1976, before serving as a solicitor and advocate from 1976 to 2000.
From 1980 to 1991, he served as chairman of Interfinance Berhad, in addition to serving as editor-in-chief of The Sarawak Tribune from 1990 to 2000.
Since 2002, he has been appointed as the permanent chairman of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and as the party’s constitutional committee chairman.
Asfia was the assemblyman for Kuala Rajang from 1979 to 1983 and Serdeng/Semop from 1991 to 2011.
