PKR vice president K. Saraswathy and former Wanita PKR chief Fuziah Salleh took their oath as senators for one term effective today. 

The swearing-in ceremony was held before Dewan Negara president Dr Rais Yatim at the Parliament building at 9.04am. 

Saraswathy and Fuziah were among 27 deputy ministers appointed as announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim yesterday, and they are taking the posts of Deputy Minister of Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Development and Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living respectively. 

Fuziah had earlier held the post of Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) during the administration of Pakatan Harapan (PH) in 2018. 

In the general election, Saraswathy lost in Tapah, while Fuziah was defeated in Kuantan. 

Yesterday, Anwar announced the appointment of 27 deputy ministers who had received the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and they were scheduled to be sworn in at Istana Negara at 3pm today. 

Meanwhile, Rais in his welcoming speech at the appointment of the two senators, advised them to heed the oath of allegiance in their duties.  

Besides, he said, senators also swore to be loyal to the country and preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. 

“After the ceremony, we must continue to uphold the oath as pledged. This morning, my thoughts still linger on carrying out my duties as a senator apart from my official duties in the government. 

“So do not forget this House, especially in fulfilling the responsibility of being present to answer questions and when required by this noble House,” he said. – Bernama, December 10, 2022.