Photo: Bernama
KUCHING: Datuk Mutang Tagal's legal background makes him a suitable choice to be the new Dewan Negara president, says a Sarawak minister.
State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said although Mutang had retired from politics for many years, his training as a lawyer would enable him to lead the Senate well.
"The last time he was a parliamentarian was in 1990, that's a long time ago. But he has the background that will fit him for his new role as Senate president.
"He has a legal background and his own law firm, so I think it will be easy for him to manage the Senate," he told reporters after launching a local movie here on Tuesday (Feb 20).
Abdul Karim also congratulated Mutang on being the first Dayak to be appointed to the post.
"It is an honour to the Dayak community, especially the Lun Bawang and Orang Ulu," he said.
Mutang, 69, was sworn in as the 20th Senate president on Monday (Feb 19), taking over from Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar who was now Sarawak's Yang di-Pertua Negeri.
A Lun Bawang from Lawas in northern Sarawak, he served two terms as Bukit Mas MP from 1982 to 1990.
Presently, he is the president of the Orang Ulu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and honorary consul of Romania in Sarawak.
