Rais Yatim elected as Dewan Negara president

Former information, communications and culture minister Rais Yatim was today elected as the new president of the Dewan Negara, the upper house of Parliament.

He replaces SA Vigneswaran whose term of office ended on June 22.

Rais, 78, was elected as the 18th Dewan Negara president through secret ballot.

He was one of three candidates proposed for the post. The other two were Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff and Theodore Douglas Lind. However, Lind withdrew at the last minute.

Rais obtained 45 votes while Yusmadi secured 19.