Dr Awaludin Appointed Negeri Sembilan State Assembly Speaker

SEREMBAN, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Dr Awaludin Said has been appointed as the Speaker of the 16th Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly.

Awaludin's election motion was proposed by Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim and seconded by Linggi state assemblyman Datuk Faizal Ramli.

The swearing-in ceremony took place in the presence of assembly secretary Mohd Amin Ludin.

Earlier, Mohd Amin said his party had received an application for one nomination to fill the vacancy for the position.

"I have received a nomination for the position of Speaker in accordance with Regulation 2, Order 7 (1) of the Negeri Sembilan Constitution.

"Every member who wants to propose the name of a member to be elected as Speaker must first ensure that the member is happy to serve if elected," he said at the First (Special) Sitting of the First Term of the 16th Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly at Wisma Negeri here.

Dr Awaludin, 66, is the deputy chief of the Rembau UMNO Division who previously held the same position from 2013-2018.

At the same time, 35 out of 36 state ssemblymen consisting of 25 assemblymen from the government bloc comprising 18 Barisan Nasional (BN) members as well as seven Perikatan Nasional (PN) members also took the oath followed by 11 assemblymen from the opposition bloc as new elected representatives.

However, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (BN-Rantau) cum Foreign Minister was not present at the sitting due to official business and will be sworn in on an appointed day

The assembly sitting also appointed Paroi assemblyman Kamarol Ridzuan Mohd Zain as Deputy Speaker later.

Dr Awaludin in his speech reminded all assemblymen to put the interests of the people as the highest priority and translate the election mandate through effective service.

He said that winning the election was not just a political achievement, but rather a great trust and responsibility that must be shouldered with full seriousness for the development of the state.

"The election has passed, now it is time for us to move forward together and focus all our efforts on the trust given by the people," he said.

He also stressed the importance of maintaining the dignity and harmony of the House so that each sitting can be conducted smoothly and productively with decorum.

Dr Awaludin also called on assemblymen to use the National Day celebration as a catalyst to continue to strengthen unity and maintain harmony community.

"The well-being of the people must be translated into tangible results through policies and actions that benefit all people regardless of background," he said.

In the state election on August 1, BN and PN won 18 and seven seats respectively, thus forming a two-thirds majority.

-- BERNAMA