BY JAMES WONG & NURA V LORNA
BINTULU: The appointment of three consecutive Sarawakian Dewan Negara presidents signifies the federal government’s trust in the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, who is also the GPS chairman, expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for entrusting GPS with the position of Senate President.
“Congratulations to Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah for being entrusted by the King and the prime minister to be appointed as the Senate President.
“He is taking over from the late Senator Datuk Mutang Tagal, who had succeeded Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, the current Head of State and former Senate President.
“This signifies the trust placed in us to lead the Senate,” he said during a press conference after launching the Sarawak Methanol Complex at Tanjung Kidurong today (July 22).
Awang Bemee was sworn in as the 21st Dewan Negara president earlier today.
At the Dewan Negara meeting in Parliament, his appointment was made after Anwar nominated Awang Bemee, the sole candidate proposed for the post.
The nomination was seconded by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
Awang Bemee, 65, replaces the late Senator Datuk Mutang Tagal, who passed away on May 10 at the age of 70 due to heart complications.
He had earlier been sworn in as Senator at the Dewan Negara on July 15.
