KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul expressed his condolences over the passing of Dewan Negara president Senator Datuk Mutang Tagal.
In a statement, Johari said that he was saddened to learn about the news and reflected on his experience working with Mutang.
"I would like to express my condolences and sadness upon receiving news of the Dewan Negara president Senator Datuk Mutang Tagal's passing who breathed his last at the National Heart Institute (IJN) today.
"Reflecting on my experience working with him, the late senator was a proud leader of the Lun Bawang ethnic group who was committed to the reform efforts of the Malaysian Parliament
"He was also a leader deeply concerned about the welfare of the Malaysian people, and his passing is a great loss to us all," his statement read.
Mutang, 69, had fallen ill during a work visit to Azerbaijan and was brought back to Malaysia this week for treatment.
He leaves behind wife Datin Ho Mei Leng and three children. Mutang, who was former Bukit Mas member of parliament, was the first indigenous Sarawakian to be appointed as Dewan Negara president.
He was sworn in as the 20th Senate president in February this year following the resignation of Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who was subsequently appointed as the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sarawak.
