He replaced Datuk Mutang Tagal, who died on May 10 this year.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim proposed Awang Bemee, who was the sole candidate, as the nominee for the position at the Second Meeting of the Third Session of the 15th Parliament today.
"He is a native of Sarawak who has served at the High Court of Borneo, Sarawak, since 1984 and has extensive experience handling various cases at all levels of courts, including the Federal Court. He has been the chairman of the Kuching Port Authority since 1998 and previously served as a Sarawak state assemblyman for three terms.
"Indeed, he has extensive experience and, according to Standing Order 2(1), I have ensured that he agrees to serve if elected," he said.
The proposal was supported by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
On July 15, Awang Bemee was sworn in as Senator before Dewan Negara Deputy President Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, with the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, for a term until July 14, 2027.
He was Nangka state assemblyman for three terms from 1996 to 2011 and also served as Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth secretary-general and a member of the party's Supreme Council.
The PBB legal adviser and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) public officer also currently holds the positions of Kuching Port Authority chairman and Sarawak Plantation Berhad director.
He is also an experienced legal practitioner, handling civil and criminal cases in all courts up to the Federal Court, since being admitted as an advocate and solicitor by the High Court of Borneo in 1984.
--BERNAMA
