New Dewan Negara president to be appointed tomorrow

KUCHING (July 21): The new president of the Dewan Negara is scheduled to be appointed tomorrow, according to the Senate’s order of the day (OOTD).

It listed the election and swearing-in of the Dewan Negara president as the first event to take place in the day’s proceedings before the question-and-answer session and second reading of Bills.

The OOTD also revealed the sitting in Parliament will commence at 10am.

Talk has been going around that former Nangka assemblyman Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, 65, will be the new Dewan Negara president.

This is following his appointment as a new Senator on July 15.

Awang Bemee served as Nangka assemblyman for three terms from 1996-2011.

He is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu legal advisor.

The veteran politician, who was born in Sibu, holds a Bachelor of Law (Hons) Degree from Universiti Malaya and was called to the Bar in 1984.

Last month, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg had hinted the new president of the Dewan Negara would be a Sarawakian.

The post became vacant when fellow Sarawakian Datuk Mutang Tagal died of heart complications on May 10.

Mutang had made history as the first Dayak to be appointed to the post on Feb 19, 2024 to replace Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who stepped down after being appointed the eighth Yang di-Pertua Negeri.