Dewan Negara has scheduled a special session on Feb 19 to appoint a new Senate president, according to Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
Senators have been summoned via a letter from Senate secretary Sujairi Abdullah, asking them to gather at 2pm in Parliament Complex for the purpose of appointing the new Senate president.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim informed Senate deputy president Nur Jazlan about the need for the special sitting, the senators were informed.
Nur Jazlan confirmed the upcoming special sitting despite being abroad at the moment.
Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, 77, stepped down from the post of Senate president last month after being appointed as the eight Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak for a four-year term from Jan 26 onward.
He replaced Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud who had held the position since March 2014.
It’s reported that both Umno and Wan Junaidi’s Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) are interested in the position, as well as several other names from Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional.
Government spokesman, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, stated on Feb 8 that a candidate has been put forth for the post and the Cabinet has been informed of this choice.
Fahmi declined to provide further details when questioned about the number of proposed candidates.
The Dewan Negara president’s position must 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 meet from March 18 to March 27.
Currently Dewan Negara has 59 senators, with 45 aligned with the unity government, 10 opposition, three professionals and one independent.
A total of 36 senators were appointed by the King while the remaining 23 senators were appointed by their respective state legislative assemblies.
