Five sworn in as senators at Dewan Negara

Five individuals were sworn in as senators before Dewan Negara president S Vigneswaran at the Dewan Negara in Kuala Lumpur today.

They were Sepanggar Umno chief Yakubah Khan, Sarawak’s PBB Wanita honorary secretary Susan Chemerai Anding; PRS deputy secretary-general Rita Sarimah Patrick Insol; chairman of Bawang Assan branch of SUPP, Robert Lau Hui Yew; and Bashir Alias who was appointed for the second term.

Yakubah, Susan, Rita Sarimah and Lau were appointed as senators for the first time upon the consent of consent Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

Speaking to reporters later, Yakubah said he would make optimal use of his term as a senator to voice out the issues of the people in Sabah, such as rural development, the influx of illegal immigrants and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), while Rita Sarimah pledged to focus on women’s issues, education in rural areas, infrastructure development and information technology.

Susan, on the other hand, said she would voice out the matters concerning the aspiration of the people in Sarawak, including the MA63.

Meanwhile, Vigneswaran in his speech said the appointment will give the new members of the senate, as one of the components of the highest legislative body of the country, the opportunity to serve the country and the people.

At the swearing-in ceremony, which will be his last as the senate president, Vigneswaran also expressed hope that all senators would improve the quality of their debate abide by their oath of loyalty to the King and the country.

“Equally important is for them to comply with the senate’s code of ethics that will help boost the image of Malaysian Parliament as a credible and respectable legislative institution,” he said.

- Bernama