PBM re-elects Julau MP Larry Sng as president for another term, positions itself as a Borneo-based party

 

KUCHING, July 22, 2024 - Julau Member of Parliament Datuk Larry Sng was re-elected as president  Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) as its triennial general meeting today.

PBM r-elects Datuk Larry Sng as president for another term. File picture

In a statement posted on his Facedbook, he said all the posts in the supreme council, Youth and Women’s wings are also filled without any contest, a testament of the party strength moving forward as a united party.

He said the TGM, which was smoothly organised, was attended by all the delegates throughout Malaysia.

He said PBM is positioning itself as a Borneo-based party since it is orginating from Borneo and over 50 per cent of its registered members are from Sarawak and Sabah.

However, he said this doesn’t mean that it has abandoned its national ambitions, saying that it is positioning itself much like Parti Warisan (Sabah)  and  Progressive Democratic Party (Sarawak), both being local parties with members and branches in the peninsular.

“As a fellow Sarawakian, I staunchly believe that the Borneo approach and mindset in managing our people in race and religious affairs can contribute positively towards nation building.

“Too much time has been wasted dwelling on divisive politics (3R) in the peninsular instead of achieving common goals.

“With government policies drawn up to make Malaysia a mediocre country as opposed to being a Great nation.

“This doesn’t mean that our party advocate to abandon Bumiputera policies but much can be done to refine them and to gradually move towards a merit based system, which addresses poverty as opposed to race.

“Not all Malays are poor, similarly not all non-Malays are rich either. The day we stop thinking ourselves as a Malay or Chinese or Indian first, but to think ourselves as Malaysian, then we can truly be Bangsa Malaysia,” Sng said.

He said as having served a total of four terms in overwhelmingly large Bumiputera constituencies; Pelagus (80%) and Julau (95%), not once has he ever thought of himself as a Chinese even though he may be the only one in a venue of thousands.

“I don’t see race nor do I feel there is a distinction between them and me. In my mind we are all one.

“Previous governments have tried to create this Malaysian identity with branding such as 1Malaysia and Keluarga Malaysia. However today politics is still perhaps even more polarised than before.

“I believe that PBM is the best political platform to live up to this Malaysian dream.

“We have lots of work ahead of us to achieve this dream and together we Malaysians can make this happen,” Sng said.

Former Nangka state rep Awang Bemee sworn-in as the 21st president of the Malaysian Senate

 

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.

Datuk Awang Bemee was sworn-in a senator on July 15, 2024. File picture

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 21^st 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.

Awang Bemee widely expected to be sworn-in as the Upper House President tomorrow

 

KUCHING, July 21, 2024 -Former Nangka State Assemblyman Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, who was sworn-in as a senator last week, is widely expected to be elected as the new President of the Dewan Negara tomorrow.

Picture shows a screenshot of the Dewan Negara’s Order of the Day.

According to the Dewan Negara’s Order of the Day posted on the Parliament website, there will be an election for the post.

If Bemee wins uncontested, he will be sworn-in as the next president, taking over from the late Datuk Mutang Tagal, who died of heart complications in May 10 this year.

Awang Bemee, 65, was sworn-in 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.

Reliable sources said Awang Bemee will replace the late Mutang Tagal, who died of heart complications on May 10, 2024 at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur, as the Dewan Negara President.

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.

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.