KUALA LUMPUR: Former Umno minister Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim has been elected the new president of Dewan Negara.
The Negri Sembilan Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairman, Rais replaces Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran whose tenure ended June 22.
Rais garnered 45 votes against his contender, senator Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff, who obtained 19 votes out of a total of 64. One senator was absent from the voting.
Vigneswaran, who is also MIC president, held the post for two terms from June 23, 2014.
Earlier, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan tabled a motion from Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to nominate Rais to the post.
The nomination was seconded by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Shabudin Yahya.
The nomination of Yusmadi from PKR was proposed by Senator Dr Ahmad Azam Hamzah and seconded by Senator Mohamad Imran Abd Hamid.
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