DAP strategist Liew Chin Tong and Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairman P Waythamoorthy are among the eight Dewan Negara senators expected to be sworn in on Tuesday (July 17).
A statement released by Dewan Rakyat corporate communications secretary Tengku Nasaruddin Tengku Mohamed stated that Liew and Waythamoorthy were among six candidates appointed by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V himself.
Liew, a rising figure in DAP, contested the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat in GE14 but lost to incumbent Datuk Wee Ka Siong by 303 votes.
Meanwhile, Waythamoorthy had campaigned heavily, promising to secure Indian votes for Pakatan Harapan, during the run-up to the general election.
Others chosen by the Federal Government to be appointed as senators are Amanah’s Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad, and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s Mohd Radzi Jidin, along with Datuk IsmaiI Ibrahim and Marzuki Yahya.
Forensic accountant Dr Mohd Radzi Mohd Jidin contested against then Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa in Ketereh, Kelantan.
Raja Bahrin is the Terengganu Parti Amanah Negara chief while Marzuki is the Penang Pribumi chief.
Also included are Datuk Hussain Awang and Asmak Husin, who were selected by the Terengganu and Kelantan state legislative assemblies respectively.
The eight new Senators are expected to be sworn in at 2pm at the Dewan Negara.
Both the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat sittings are to be officiated tomorrow by the Agong.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said on July 2 that three more ministers will be appointed as Cabinet ministers after they have been sworn in as senators.
The posts currently vacant are Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (National Unity and Social Well-Being) and the deputies at the Defence Ministry, the Economic Affairs Ministry and the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
At present, there are 27 ministers and 23 deputy ministers.