Awang Bemee’s appointment as new Senate president shows King, PM’s faith in S’wak

KUCHING (July 22): The appointment of Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah as the new Senate president reflected the faith of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Sarawak, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He said prior to Awang Bemee’s appointment, the previous Dewan Negara presidents were also from Sarawak.

“Awang Bemee took over from the late Datuk Mutang Tagal and before that the late Mutang took over from Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, which goes to show off their trust in Sarawak to lead the Dewan Negara.

“As chairman of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), I would like to thank the Prime Minister for entrusting GPS to serve as the Senate president,” he told a press conference after officiating the opening of Sarawak Methanol Complex in Bintulu today.

He was asked to comment on Awang Bemee’s appointment as the 21st Dewan Negara president at the meeting of the Dewan Negara in the Parliament in Kuala Lumpur today.

Abang Johari also congratulated Awang Bemee on his appointment, who coincidently took his oath of office on Sarawak Day.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had nominated Awang Bemee, the sole candidate for the post, at the meeting of the Dewan Negara in Parliament today.

Awang Bemee, who is currently the legal advisor of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the backbone of GPS, had taken the oath of office last week as a Senator at the Dewan Negara prior to his appointment.

He is the fourth Sarawakian appointed to the top post after the late Tan Sri Datuk Abang Ahmad Urai, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and the late Mutang, who had passed away due to heart complications on May 10.

The former three-term Nangka assemblyman was born in Sibu and holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) degree from the Universiti Malaya.