Three senators sworn into office, urged to elevate parliamentary discourse

Kuala Lumpur — Three members of the Dewan Negara, including one fresh appointee and two re-elected representatives, officially took their oaths of office before Senate President Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah at the Parliament Building today.

Among those sworn in was Datuk Seri Profesor Dr Noor Inayah Ya’akub, the Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chancellor of the International University of the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (UniMAIWP). Appointed as a new Senator following her election by the Penang State Legislative Assembly, her three-year term commences from May 14, 2026, and will run until May 13, 2029.

The ceremony also saw the reinstatement of two returning senators who were re-elected by their respective state assemblies:

• Dr RA Lingeshwaran: Re-elected by the Penang State Legislative Assembly to serve alongside Noor Inayah for an identical three-year term ending May 13, 2029.

• Hussin Ismail: The PAS Central Permanent Chairman and President of Yayasan Amal Malaysia, who was re-elected by the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly. His reappointment officially took effect on April 23, 2026, and will conclude on April 22, 2029.

In his welcoming address, Senate President Awang Bemee extended his heartfelt congratulations to the delegation and emphasized the growing weight of their public duty.

He expressed high hopes that all three senators would lean heavily on their diverse professional experience, academic expertise, and institutional wisdom to elevate parliamentary debates, raise high-quality inquiries, and contribute substantially to Senate Select Committees.

“In this challenging environment, the public maintains high expectations for Parliament to continue playing an effective role in thoroughly scrutinizing government policies,” Awang Bemee noted, stressing that their constructive input remains vital to national progress and the long-term well-being of the people.