Dewan Negara to hold special sitting to appoint new Senate president, says Nur Jazlan

PETALING JAYA: Dewan Negara will hold a special sitting this Feb 19 to appoint a new Senate president, says Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.

Invitations for the special sitting were issued via a letter issued by Senate secretary Sujairi Abdullah for senators to attend the meeting at 2pm in Parliament Complex for the appointment of the new Senate president.

The senators were also told that the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had informed Senate deputy president Nur Jazlan of the need to hold the special sitting for the purpose of appointing the new Senate president.

When contacted, Nur Jazlan, who is currently abroad, confirmed the coming special sitting.

Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, 77, vacated the post of Senate president last month following his appointment as the eight Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak for a four year term effective Jan 26.

The former seven-term MP replaced Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud who had held the position since March 2014.

On Tuesday (Feb 6), The Star reported jostling had begun for the vacant Dewan Negara presidency.

Both Umno and Wan Junaidi’s Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) were said to have indicated that they were keen on the position.

Also bandied were several other names from Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional.

On Thursday (Feb 8), spokesman for the government, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said that a candidate has been proposed for the post with the Cabinet notified of the choice of candidate.

However, Fahmi declined to elaborate when asked if there was more than one name proposed.

The Dewan Negara president’s post has to be filled before Feb 26 for the official opening of the new Parliament session by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.

The Senate will sit from March 18 till March 27.

Currently Dewan Negara has 59 senators of which 45 are aligned with the unity government, 10 opposition, three professionals and an independent.

A total of 36 senators were appointed by the King while the remaining 23 senators were appointed by their respective state legislative assemblies.