Liew Chin Tong to become senator on July 17 along with Hindraf chief, Raja Bahrin and 5 others

PETALING JAYA: DAP’s Liew Chin Tong (pic) is among the eight Dewan Negara senators expected to be sworn in on Tuesday (July 17).

Others chosen by the Federal Government to be appointed as senators by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong are Datuk Ismail Ibrahim; Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad, Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin, Marzuki Yahya and Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy.

Also included are Datuk Hussain Awang and Asmak Husin, who were selected by the Terengganu and Kelantan state legislative assemblies respectively.

The eight new Senators are expected to be sworn in at 2pm at the Dewan Negara.

Liew narrowly lost the Ayer Hitam parliament seat in Johor to MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong in GE14, while forensic accountant Dr Mohd Radzi Mohd Jidin contested under the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Pribumi) banner against then Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa in Ketereh, Kelantan.

Some of the new senators are state party leaders. Marzuki is the Penang Pribumi chief while Raja Bahrin is the Terengganu Parti Amanah Negara chief.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said on July 2 that three more ministers will be appointed as Cabinet ministers after they have been sworn in as senators.

The posts currently vacant are Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (National Unity and Social Well-being) and the deputies at the Defence Ministry, the Economic Affairs Ministry and the Housing and Local Government Ministry.