RAIS Yatim is the new Dewan Negara president after beating Senator Yusmadi Yusoff from PKR.

He polled 45 votes against Yusmadi’s 19.

Warisan’s Theodore Douglas Lind, who was nominated by Marzuki Yahya, declined the nomination.

Raid took his oath of office as the 19th president before deputy president, Abd Halim Abd Samad.

The Negri Sembilan Bersatu chief replaced MIC president S.A. Vigneswaran whose term expired in June.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin nominated Rais, who was sworn in as a senator in June after the change in government.

He served as the menteri besar of Negri Sembilan and has held several cabinet portfolios, such as the minister of information, communications and culture, and minister of foreign affairs.

Earlier prior to the vote, citing the standing orders, Senator Nga Hock Cheh challenged Muhyiddin’s nomination of Rais , saying the prime minister could not nominate the latter as he was not a member of the senate.

“YAB (prime minister) is not a member of the Dewan Negara. He is a member of the Dewan Rakyat. Hence, for the prime minister does not have the right to participate in the appointment of the Senate president because by law, election includes nomination,” he said.

“Hence with all due respect I ask for the nomination by YAB to be rejected.”

Nga called for Yusmadi to be elected without opposition as the other candidate’s nomination is “defective” by law and the nomination was made by an unauthorised person.

However, Halim said there are no rules that only a member of the Dewan Negara can nominate a candidate. 

Rais’ nomination was opposed by senators from opposition parties, with many saying the former Umno – now Bersatu – politician is not suited to the role as he is not a unifying figure. – September 2, 2020.