KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 ― Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong and Gopeng Umno chief Datuk Hamzah Kassim were elected to be senators for Perak at the State Asssembly sitting here today. 

Lee, 60, who is also former Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister, holds a bachelor's degree (Honours) in Accounting and Finance from Bristol Polytechnic, England.

Hamzah, 61, who has been Gopeng Umno chief since 2008, is the chairman of Risda Bina Sdn Bhd.

Their names were nominated by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and seconded by Datuk Saarani Mohamad (BN-Kota Tampan).

The opposition also fielded their own names but failed to garner enough support.

Their appointments are for a three-year term from April 21.

The sitting also approved the appointment of Datuk Mohd Tarmizi Idris (BN-Kenering) as chairman of the Perak Public Accounts Committtee and Speaker S. Thangeswary to head the Standing Orders and Rights and Privileges committees before adjourning sine die. ― Bernama