He said although Mutang had quit politics a long time ago, his determination to elevate the dignity of Parliament, including the Senate, to greater heights could be seen as soon as he was appointed to hold the office of Senate president last February.

“He immediately began holding serious discussions on parliamentary reforms with the Dewan Rakyat speaker (Johari Abdul). I saw him as someone who had strong principles and good moral values.

“We have indeed lost a Senate president who was able to elevate the dignity of the Senate,” Anwar told reporters at the Nirvana Centre here today.

Anwar arrived at the memorial centre at noon to pay his last respects to Mutang, who died at the National Heart Institute (IJN) yesterday.

He spent about 20 minutes meeting Mutang’s family, including his wife, Ho May Leng, and their three children to convey his condolences.

Mutang, 69, was admitted to IJN on May 6 upon his return from Azerbaijan the same day.

Sarawak governor Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Johari, deputy speaker Ramli Nor and law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said also paid their last respects to Mutang today.

In Kuching, Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg said the state had lost a great leader, describing Mutang as fair to all communities.

“I had the opportunity to visit Mutang on Wednesday.

“He was a good leader, he was very fair to all communities,” he told reporters after attending a Gabungan Parti Sarawak Supreme Council meeting.

According to a statement from the Senate president’s office, another memorial service will be held at the Borneo Evangelical Mission Church in Miri from 10am tomorrow.

Mutang will be laid to rest at the SIB Lambir Cemetery in Miri on Monday.

On Feb 19, the former Bukit Mas MP was appointed as the 20th president of the Senate, replacing Wan Junaidi, who relinquished the post following his appointment as the Sarawak governor.

Mutang also made history as the first leader from the Lun Bawang ethnic group to be appointed as the Senate president.