By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, March 23: Following the appointment of a senator from Parti Keadilan Rakyat Senator (PKR) and Democratic Action Party (DAP), there are currently nine senators from Sarawak – the highest number since Sarawak joined Malaya to form the Federation of Malaysia.
The number, however, is considered small compared to the total number of 70, where most of them are still from Peninsular Malaysia.
According to Senator Datuk Paul Igai, out of the nine Senators from Sarawak, six are from Gabungan Parti Sarawak, one from Parti Primbumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), and one each from DAP and PKR, respectively.
Of the six senators from GPS, three are from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) namely Datuk Dr Nuing Jeruing, Susan Chemerai Anding and Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim.
There is one each from the GPS component parties of Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) namely Datuk Robert Lau, Rita Insol and Paul, respectively.
Meanwhile, Senator Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian is from Bersatu Sarawak.
With the addition of PKR Sarawak information chief Abun Sui and DAP Sarikei branch secretary Roderick Wong as senators, the number of senators from Sarawak now stands at nine.
Paul told DayakDaily that prior, there were only five and at times, only four senators from Sarawak, showing low Sarawakian representation within the Senate.
There are in total 70 senators in the Upper House. Each state is entitled to appoint two, through decision made by the state assemblies. The remaining 44, including the four from Federal Territories, are appointed by the King.
The tenure of a senator is three years. — DayakDaily
