Penang proposes historian, unionist as senators
GEORGE TOWN, May 9 — The Penang government has proposed National Defence University lecturer Dr Ariffin S.M. Omar and executive secretary of the National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industry Workers, Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, as senators.
Ariffin, 63, and Syed Shahir (picture), 60, were unanimously chosen for the post at the state assembly sitting today to replace Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim and Datuk Mustafa Kamal Mohd Yusoff whose term will end on May 30.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, when tabling the motion for the two to be appointed to the Dewan Negara (Senate), said Ariffin was an expert in Malay history and had written a number of academic books.
Ariffin had also served as lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Utara Malaysia.
Lim said Syed Shahir was chosen because of his vast experience in the union movement in Malaysia for the past 38 years.
“As a respected unionist, he had also represented the country at various national and international forums, conferences and seminars,” he added. — Bernama
