PUTRAJAYA, The government has not discussed the appointment of the new Senate President following the sudden demise of Datuk Mutang Tagal last Friday, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

He said the appointment is at the discretion of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is currently on an official visit to Qatar. Subsequently, the nomination will be presented to His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, for final approval.

“We are still uncertain who will replace him, and which party or state they will be from. It’s premature to discuss this matter at this stage,” he told the media after chairing the National Science Council meeting here today.

Mutang, who was appointed as the 20th president of the Dewan Negara on Feb 19, died at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur at 11.46 am on Friday, aged 69.

The former Bukit Mas MP (1982-1990) made history as the first leader from the Lun Bawang ethnic group to be appointed to the position.

When asked about potentia
l candidates from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to replace Mutang, Fadillah, who is also the GPS chief Whip, said the matter should be referred to chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Yesterday, GPS secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, expressed hope that the government would consider appointing a Sarawakian to succeed Mutang as the Senate president.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency