Don replaces Tunku Aziz

 

No hard feelings: Ng (left) talking to Tunku Aziz in Dewan Negara Wednesday. Looking on is Speaker Tan Sri Abu Zahar Nika Ujang. 

DAP’s first senator Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim, who was critical of the Bersih 3.0 rally, has been replaced.

In his place will be academician Prof Dr Ariffin Omar, 63, unanimously nominated by the Penang state assembly along with former MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, 60, as its representatives in the Dewan Negara.

Another whose term as senator was not renewed is state PKR election director Mustafa Kamal Mohd Yusoff.

In KUALA LUMPUR, Tunku Aziz, who is also DAP vice-chairman, said: “I served Dewan Negara, not as an Opposition proponent but as a loyal citizen for the best interest of the country.

“I wish to serve for three more years, but after being provoked and for what I said, that will not happen now,” he said during a farewell luncheon in Parliament yesterday. 

Tunku Aziz, whose senatorship would end on May 31, however, said that “it was a small price to pay”.

The Transparency International Malaysia’s founding president had spoken out against the rally before it was held on April 28, fearing that it might turn violent.

He was then publicly censured by his party.

Earlier, Senator Ng Fook Heng who had “provoked” Tunku Aziz into stating his views on Bersih 3.0 during the Dewan Negara debate on April 26, apologised.

“You (Tunku Aziz) were bombarded for what you said,” he said.

In GEORGE TOWN, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, in tabling the motion on the replacement senators, thanked both Tunku Aziz and Mustafa Kamal for their services.

Dr Ariffin, a National Defence University of Malaysia lecturer, has published several books and holds a doctorate in south-east Asian history.

He joined DAP last year.

Syed Shahir has been involved in trade union movement for the past 38 years.