KUCHING: Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has congratulated new Dewan Negara president Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah for being appointed to the post.
He said Awang Bemee's appointment on Monday (July 22) is significant as it coincided with the date Sarawak attained self-government in 1963 ahead of Malaysia's formation on Sept 16 of the same year.
"I am indeed happy to see that the Prime Minister has chosen a Sarawak leader again to be nominated and eventually endorsed by the members of the Senate to become its 21st president," he said in a statement on Thursday (July 25).
Wan Junaidi, who was a former Senate president, also hoped that Awang Bemee would continue to assist the Federal Government's efforts to reform Parliament and enhance the check-and-balance mechanism which he had initiated before resigning on Jan 19 this year.
Awang Bemee was sworn in as Senate president on Monday. He succeeded Datuk Mutang Tagal, also a Sarawakian, who passed away on May 10.
A former three-term Nangka assemblyman, Awang Bemee had earlier taken the oath of office as a Senator on July 15 for a term until July 14, 2027.
