PETALING JAYA: Former Bukit Mas MP Mutang Tagal has been appointed as the Dewan Negara president.
He is the first indigenous Sarawakian to hold the post.
The position of Dewan Negara president had remained vacant since January after Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar resigned to take up his appointment as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak.
Mutang, from the Lun Bawang tribe, is a trained lawyer.
The 69-year old is also the brother of the late Judson Sakai Tagal, former Sarawak assistant minister of communications and first Ba Kelalan assemblyman.
He is currently the Orang Ulu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president and the honorary consul-general for Romania in Sarawak.
In his speech, Mutang pledged to strengthen the legislative process and push reforms as planned, especially the Parliamentary Services Act, and amendments to other parliamentary laws.
“The Dewan Negara, as the upper house, must keep up its credibility and prestige in debating bills passed by the lower house.
“I therefore urge all senators to debate constructively and with substance, and state their stance based on their expertise, despite it not being in line with the Dewan Rakyat.
“We have to discuss matters of national importance that will bring common good for the country,” the 20th Senate president said.
Mutang said that despite leaving as a two-term Bukit Mas MP in 1990, he has been very much in touch with the grassroots of Sarawak, involved in every aspect of life.
Earlier, Senate deputy president Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the Senate secretary only received one nomination for the presidency, which was Mutang, proposed by the prime minister.
