Pahang MCA Wanita chief Lim Nget Yoon was one of the five first-time individuals sworn in as senators at Parliament today.      

Lim, 56, is also MCA Wanita deputy organising secretary and Raub District Council member since 2000.   

NONE The rest were Marang Umno Wanita chief Zaitun Mat Amin, 55, BentongUmno Wanita chief Roslin Abdul Rahman, 52, National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industries Workers executive secretary Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, 60 and Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia lecturer Dr Ariffin SM Omar, 62 ( right ).

The senators were sworn in before Senate president Abu Zahar Nika Ujang, for a term of three years.      

Dr Ariffin and Syed Shahir were selected after Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng tabled a motion in the state assembly to replace former senators Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim and Mustafa Kamal Mohd Yusoff whose terms ended on May 30.   

Met by reporters after the ceremony, Syed Shahir said he and his colleagues would continue to highlight worker-related issues in the country. 

NONE Syed Shahir ( right ), from Raub, Pahang, who has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Newcastle and is Kelana Jaya Parti Keadilan Rakyat branch chief, was appointed on the basis of his experience as an activist in the Malaysian Trades Union Congress since 1977.   

Meanwhile, Zaitun said she was grateful to the government for having faith in her and promised to be more active in voicing the opinions of women in the senate.

“A senator’s job is not to be taken lightly as we have been entrusted with the responsibility of defending the peoples' well being. I will work towards this, especially in ensuring the rights of women are protected,” she emphasised.  

Apart from holding the post of Terengganu Umno wanita treasurer, the native of Kampung Atas Tol, Kuala Terengganu is also active in various community activities and has been awarded the 2005 ‘Belia Wanita’ title.      

In his speech, Abu Zahar urged the senators to work towards understanding, appreciating, defending and upholding the federal constitution.  

He also advised them to never disobey the oath they have taken as it was of utmost importance for the good of the people.    

- Bernama