By Simon Peter
KUCHING, July 22, 2024 -Former Nangka State Assemblyman Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, as widely expected, was elected and then sworn-in as the 21st President of the Upper President this morning.
His name was proposed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. There was no other candidate being proposed for the position.
Deputy President Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed then declared Awang Bemee was duly elected president unopposed.
Awang Bemee replaced fellow Sarawakian the late Datuk Mutang Tagal who died of heart complications on May 10 this year.
Awang Bemee, 65, was sworn-in as a senator before Dewan Negara’s Deputy President Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed on July 15.
His appointment as the senator for a term of three years took effect from today to July 14, 2027, subjected to a renewal by another term of three years.
His senatorial appointment has the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg submitted Awang Bemee’s name to Prime Minister Datuk seri Anwar Ibrahim to be the next Upper House president.
Abang Johari was also reported to have said that the nominee for the president’s post would come from Sarawak.
In proposing Awang Bemee’s name for the Upper house’s president, Anwar said the former Nangka Assemblyman has a wide experience in government administration and legal practice.
“According to Standing Order 2(1), I have assured that he agreed to serve if he is elected,” the prime minister said.
In his acceptance speech, Awang Bemee expressed his gratitude to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the prime minister and Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg on his appointment as a senator and then nominated him as the 21st president.
“This is a huge recognition to me by my colleagues in the Upper House.
“This is not just a recognition to me as a Sarawakian and a Malaysian citizen to be elected as the president, but today, Sarawak, one of the regions in forming Malaysia, is free from the colonial rule and on September 16, 1963, agreed, together with Sabah and Federation of Malaya, to form the Federation of Malaysia under the Malaysia Agreement 1963,” he said.
Awang Bemee obtained his Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from Universiti Malaya in 1983, joined a legal firm as a partner and appointed as the chairman of the Kuching Port Authority.
The 65-year old was the Nangka State Assemblyman from 2004 to 2009 before being replaced by the current State Assemblyman, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, who is also the Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development.
Mutang, 69, served as the 20th President of the Dewan Negara from February to his death in office on May 10, 2024.
He was the Member of Parliament for Bukit Mas from April 1982 to October 1990.
Mutang replaced Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who stepped down as the Dewan Negara President, upon his appointment as the Sarawak Governor.
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