Former Nangka assemblyman appointed as 21st Dewan Negara president

PETALING JAYA: Former Nangka assemblyman Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah was sworn in as the Dewan Negara president on Monday (July 22).He replaced Datuk Mutang Tagal, who died on May 10.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim proposed Awang Bemee, who was the sole candidate, as the nominee for the position at the Second Meeting of the Third Session of the 15th Parliament on Monday

“He is a native of Sarawak who has served at the High Court of Borneo, Sarawak, since 1984 and has extensive experience handling various cases at all levels of courts, including the Federal Court. He has been the chairman of the Kuching Port Authority since 1998 and previously served as a Sarawak state assemblyman for three terms.

“Indeed, he has extensive experience and, according to Standing Order 2(1), I have ensured that he agrees to serve if elected,” he said.

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He had taken the oath of office as a Senator before Dewan Negara deputy president Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed at the Senate last Monday (July 15).

Awang Bemee was appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for the period starting Monday until July 14, 2027.

The former three-term Nangka assemblyman from 1996 to 2011 is also the secretary-general of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and a member of the party’s supreme council (MKT).

The PBB legal adviser and Public Officer of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) also currently holds the position of chairman of the Kuching Port Authority and is a director of Sarawak Plantation Berhad.

He is a legal practitioner since he was accepted as an advocate and solicitor by the High Court of Borneo in 1984.

Born on June 22, 1959, Awang Bemee holds a Bachelor of Laws from Universiti Malaya.- Bernama