Bantah Taib sebagai TYT cerminkan politik negatif pembangkang

KUCHING: Tindakan pembangkang yang membantah pelantikan Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud sebagai Yang di-Pertua Negeri mencerminkan politik negatif diamalkan mereka.

Ketua Setiausaha Politik Ketua Menteri Abdullah Saidol berkata tentangan itu amat bercanggah dengan kehendak majoriti rakyat yang diwakili Barisan Nasional (BN).

“BN Sarawak yang mewakili majoriti orang Sarawak telah sebulat suara mengusul dan menyokong pelantikan Pehin Sri sebagai Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

“Pehin Sri adalah anak peribumi Sarawak yang banyak berjasa kepada negeri ini,” katanya menerusi satu kenyataan semalam.

Abdullah berkata beliau hairan me-ngapa pihak terbabit tidak membantah pelantikan Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Lim Guan Eng yang bukan anak tempatan atau Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang bercita-cita menjadi Menteri Besar Selangor.

Menurutnya, pembangkang sudah celaru dengan hala tuju perjuangan politik mereka.

Mereka iri hati dengan kedudukan BN yang semakin kukuh dari segi politik dan perpaduan kaum, katanya.

“Mereka berniat untuk menimbulkan kekacauan seperti yang berlaku di negara jiran yang tidak menguntungkan rakyat.

“Kita warga negeri Sarawak daripada pelbagai kaum akan menyambut pelantikan TYT dan Ketua Menteri baharu dengan harapan besar untuk meneruskan agenda pembangunan negeri ini terutama di kawasan pedalaman,” katanya.

Abdullah diminta mengulas mengenai hebahan menerusi telefon bimbit yang mengatakan satu perhimpunan anjuran pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) Brimas akan diadakan pada Sabtu ini.

Bermula jam 9 pagi di pekarangan Kompleks Pelancongan Sarawak, ia mengatakan program itu akan disertai Setiausaha PKR Miri Zulhaidah Subuh.

Peserta perhimpunan dikatakan akan menggunakan baju-T berwarna hitam dan akan mengibarkan bendera separuh tiang.

Bagaimanapun, Pengerusi PKR Sarawak Baru Bian berkata beliau tidak maklum mengenai hal itu.

Beliau yang juga ADUN Ba’Kelalan turut membayangkan tidak akan me-nyertai perhimpunan itu kerana masih berada di kawasan.

Mengulas perkara sama bekas Naib Ketua Pemuda Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Pandi Suhaili berkata penganjur program itu digesa tidak meneruskan perhimpunan.

Katanya pembangkang hanya akan mengundangkan kemarahan rakyat Sarawak memandangkan Taib amat layak untuk dilantik ke jawatan itu setelah mengambil kira jasanya terhadap pembangunan Sarawak.

“Sumbangan Taib kepada pembangunan negeri Sarawak amatlah besar sehingga melayakkannya digelar sebagai Bapa Pembangunan Moden Sarawak.

“Atas dasar tersebut, Taib adalah seorang calon yang layak untuk dilantik sebagai TYT sebagai menghargai sumbangannya kepada negeri Sarawak,” katanya menerusi satu kenyataan semalam.

Menurutnya, keengganan penganjur mengakui hakikat ini menunjukkan mereka hanya mengamalkan politik negatif yang enggan melihat seba-rang kebaikan yang ada pada pihak lawan.

“Sarawak memerlukan pembangkang yang mempunyai minda yang profesional yang dapat membantu Sarawak maju ke hadapan dan bukannya pembangkang yang mempunyai minda busuk dan jahat yang hanya bertujuan untuk mencari publisiti murahan dengan mengadakan perhimpunan haram untuk mendapatkan perhatian rakyat Sarawak,” ujarnya. - theborneopost

Kekosongan kerusi Balingian sudah dimaklumkan, SPR bincang 6 Mac

KUCHING: Kekosongan kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Balingian dimaklumkan kepada Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) semalam, kata Speaker DUN Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar.

Asfia berkata, kerusi yang diwakili Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud itu kosong berkuat kuasa hari ini serentak dengan peletakan jawatan beliau sebagai Ketua Menteri.

“Saya sudah memaklumkan Pengerusi SPR menerusi faksimili hari ini (semalam) berhubung peletakan jawatan YAB Ketua Menteri sebagai ADUN Balingian di mana kerusi itu sekarang kosong.

“Notis ini adalah untuk membolehkan SPR mengambil tindakan sepatutnya,” ujarnya pada sidang media di DUN di sini, semalam.

Asfia berkata, surat memaklumkan peletakan jawatan itu diterima beliau pada 26 Februari.

Menurut beliau, tindakan Taib itu adalah selaras dengan Artikel 18(2)(b) Perlembagaan Sarawak yang antara lain mengkehendaki beliau mengosongkan kerusi itu apabila meletak jawatan sebagai Ketua Menteri.

Tempoh DUN Sarawak tamat pada 20 Jun 2016 dan tempoh dua tahun bermula 21 Jun 2014. Pilihan Raya Kecil tidak perlu diadakan jika terdapat sebarang kekosongan dalam tempoh dua tahun DUN akan tamat tempoh.

Sehubungan itu, Bernama melaporkan SPR akan mengadakan mesyuarat khas pada 6 Mac bagi membincangkan kekosongan kerusi itu.

Mesyuarat akan dipengerusikan Pengerusi SPR Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof di Putrajaya.

Setiausaha SPR Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh dalam kenyataan semalam berkata, SPR telah menerima pemakluman rasmi daripada Asfia.

Sementara itu, Asfia yang juga Pengerusi Tetap Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) enggan mengulas lanjut mengenai perbincangan berhubung calon Barisan Nasional (BN) di kerusi tersebut kelak.

Antara yang disebut bakal bertanding atas tiket BN kelak ialah Mufti Perlis Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya. Juanda, 42, berketurunan Melanau dan berasal dari Igan, Mukah.

Kelmarin, Juanda berkata beliau bersedia untuk menggalas tanggungjawab itu jika dikehendaki berbuat demikian oleh pucuk pimpinan BN.

Seorang lagi yang dikaitkan ialah jurutera berusia 30-an yang memiliki perniagaan di Kuching dan berasal dari Kampung Tellian, Mukah.

Taib yang meletak jawatan Ketua Menteri berkuat kuasa hari ini merupakan ADUN Balingian sejak 2001. PBB mewakili BN di kerusi tersebut.

Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem dijadual mengangkat sumpah sebagai Ketua Menteri Sarawak kelima pada hari ini di hadapan Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Datuk Abang Muhammad Salahuddin.

Taib, 78, yang menjadi Ketua Menteri selama 33 tahun dijadual menerima watikah pelantikan sebagai Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak ketujuh menggantikan Tun Salahuddin hari ini.

Asfia berkata, Taib akan menerima watikah pelantikan daripada Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah di Kuala Lumpur.

“Seterusnya Taib dijangka akan mengangkat sumpah di hadapan Hakim Besar Sabah dan Sarawak pada pagi Sabtu di Dewan Undangan Negeri,” ujarnya. - theborneopost

Terima kasih atas kerjasama semua: Tun Salahuddin

TUN SALAHUDDIN: Tamat tempoh perkhid-matan sebagai TYT hari ini.

KUCHING: Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin menyampaikan penghargaan kepada Yang di-Pertuan Agong atas layanan mesra serta kerjasama yang diberikan kepada beliau sepanjang menjadi Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak.

Tun Salahuddin pada masa yang sama turut berterima kasih atas kerjasama Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja-Raja selain Yang di-Pertua Negeri lain atas kerjasama sepanjang menjadi Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak selama 13 tahun tiga bulan.

“Patik berharap kerjasama dan layanan sedemikian akan dapat diteruskan kepada Tuan Yang Terutama Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak yang baharu kelak.

“Dengan kesempatan ini, patik juga memohon ampun dan maaf sekiranya sepanjang tempoh menjadi Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak terdapat kesilapan dan kekasaran bahasa patik gunakan terhadap Duli-Duli Tuanku dan Tuan Yang Terutama Tun,” kata beliau.

Beliau berkata demikian berucap semasa menghadiri Majlis Mesyuarat Raja-Raja Yang Ke-234 di Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur yang berakhir semalam.

Mesyuarat yang berlangsung selama dua hari itu dipengerusikan oleh Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan dan dihadiri oleh Raja-Raja Melayu selain diiringi Menteri Besar masing-masing kecuali Pahang yang diwakili Tengku Mahkota Pahang dan Perak diwakili Raja Muda Perak.

Tun Salahuddin diiringi oleh Menteri Perancangan Sumber dan Alam Sekitar Kedua Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan yang mewakili Ketua Menteri.

Tun Salahuddin akan tamat tempoh sebagai Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak pada hari ini. - theborneopost

Detik bersejarah buat Sarawak

BERTENAGA: Taib mencuba alat senaman selepas merasmikan Sudut Rekreasi Wisma Bapa Malaysia di Kuching, semalam. Turut kelihatan Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib dan Adenan. — Gambar Bernama

Taib ucap selamat tinggal, Adenan angkat sumpah sebagai Ketua Menteri hari ini

KUCHING: Sarawak mencatat sejarah hari ini apabila Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem mengangkat sumpah sebagai Ketua Menteri kelima menggantikan Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Adenan, 70, mengangkat sumpah di hadapan Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin pada jam 9.30 pagi ini di Astana, Petra Jaya.

Semalam, Taib meninggalkan pejabatnya di Wisma Bapa Malaysia, Petra Jaya di sini pada jam 2.15 petang dalam suasana pilu.

Selain Adenan, mengiringi beliau ialah Timbalan Ketua Menteri Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, Menteri Kemajuan Tanah Tan Sri James Jemut Masing dan Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani.

Hadir sama Timbalan Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Datu Ose Murang dan Datu Misnu Taha, Setiausaha Persekutuan Datuk Md Yahaya Basimin serta ketua-ketua jabatan di Jabatan Ketua Menteri.

Taib ditemani isteri Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib juga sempat bersalaman dengan kakitangan di Jabatan Ketua Menteri yang turut mengiringinya sambil membawa kain rentang yang bertulis ‘I Love Pehin Sri’ dan ‘TQ Pehin Sri.’

Morshidi yang berkhidmat di bawah Taib sejak tahun 2009 menyifatkan bekerja dengan Taib sebagai amat memuaskan kerana beliau adalah seorang yang berpandangan luas, berpengetahuan serta fokus pada kerja.

“Saya berasa amat bertuah kerana beliau telah memberikan kami banyak didikan dan haluan untuk membangunkan negeri ini.

“Kini, saya akan bekerja di bawah seorang lagi Ketua Menteri yang berpengetahuan serta berpengalaman dan saya yakin beliau akan dapat melakukan apa yang telah Pehin Sri lakukan untuk Sarawak,” katanya ketika ditemui pemberita.

Morshidi turut mendoakan yang terbaik untuk pelantikan baharu Taib sebagai Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak.

Terdahulu, Taib telah menyempurnakan perasmian Sudut Rekreasi Wisma Bapa Malaysia.

Antara kemudahan yang terdapat di situ ialah pejabat pos, kedai koperasi, mesin ATM, gimnasium, bilik bersalin untuk lelaki dan wanita, lokar, bilik mandi dan tandas serta ruang tempat rehat dan menunggu.

Taib mengumumkan persaraannya selepas 33 tahun menjadi Ketua Menteri menggantikan bapa saudaranya, Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’kub mulai 26 Mac 1981.

Ketua Menteri Sarawak yang pertama ialah Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan berkuat kuasa 22 Julai 1963 hingga 16 Jun 1966 (pertama), beliau kemudian menjawat semula jawatan itu bagi kedua kalinya mulai 7 September 1966 hingga 23 September 1966.

Mendiang Ningkan digantikan Datuk Tawi Sli berkuat kuasa 16 Jun 1966 hingga 7 September 1966. Kemudian Tawi memegang jawatan itu semula mulai 23 September 1966 hingga diambil alih oleh Abdul Rahman pada 7 Julai 1970.

Adenan diuar-uarkan dilantik ke jawatan itu selepas Taib mengumumkan peletakan jawatannya pada 8 Februari yang lalu.

Taib menamatkan teka-teki mengenai penggantinya apabila mengadakan sidang media bagi menamakan Adenan sebagai Ketua Menteri Baharu.

Adenan dikatakan calon paling sesuai berdasarkan kebijaksanaan dan pengalaman luas dalam politik terutama Sarawak.

Dalam pada itu, Taib akan menerima watikah lantikan sebagai Yang di-Pertua Negeri pada hari ini juga menjadikannya orang ketujuh menduduki kerusi Astana peninggalan pemerintahan Rajah Brooke itu.

Speaker Dewan Undangan Negeri Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nasar semalam berkata, Taib akan mengangkat sumpah di hadapan Hakim Besar Sabah dan Sarawak pada Sabtu di Kuching.

Susulan pelantikan itu, Taib akan disambut dalam satu majlis sempena ketibaannya pada jam 8 malam ini di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuching sekembalinya beliau dari ibu negara.

Tun Salahuddin tamat tempoh lantikannya pada hari ini. Beliau menjawat jawatan itu dua kali. Kali pertama mulai 2 April 1977 hingga 1 April 1981, dan kemudian dilantik semula pada 6 Disember 2000 hingga sekarang.

Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak pertama ialah Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Openg Sapiee yang memegang tugas dari 16 September 1963 hingga 28 Mac 1969.

Tun Datuk Patinggi Tuanku Bujang Tuanku Othman pula dilantik ke jawatan itu berkuat kuasa 2 April 1969 hingga 1 April 1977.

Selepas lantikan pertama Tun Salahuddin, jawatan itu dipertanggungjawabkan kepada Tun Datuk Patinggi Abdul Rahman Ya’kub mulai 2 April 1981 hingga 1 April 1985.

Tun Rahman digantikan Tun Datuk Patinggi Ahmad Zaidi Adruce Mohd Nor mulai 2 April 1985 hingga 5 Disember 2000.

Jabatan Penerangan Sarawak semalam memberitahu satu majlis perpisahan akan diadakan di Astana sejurus selesai majlis angkat sumpah Ketua Menteri baharu. - .theborneopost

EC to submit budget for by-election March 6

KUCHING: The state Election Commission will submit the budget for the Balingian by-election for approval on March 6.

As the state EC has been on standby since Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud announced his retirement on February 12, it has done most of the ground work for the by-election.

While waiting for the appointment of the returning officer which state EC director Datu Takun Sunggah said would be done in the next one or two days, the commission is looking into logistic details and preparing for the training of election officials and workers.

“We don’t foresee any major problems popping up in this by-election. The training of the election officials and workers will be carried out the next day after the nomination day.

“Logistics wise, it is also easy to handle because the constituency is accessible by road. There will be no need to budget for the use of helicopter. For boat, we might budget for one or two, the rest will be land vehicles,” said Takun.

He said like the 2013 general election, indelible ink would be used for the Balingian by-election and the electoral roll, it will also be finalised on March 6 meeting.

Meanwhile, EC secretary Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh issued a statement pointing out that the EC would convene a special meeting on March 6 to discuss the Balingian state seat which is vacated by outgoing Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud effective today.

The meeting which will be held at EC headquarters in Putrajaya at 10 am will be chaired by EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof. A press conference will be held after the meeting.

Abdul Ghani said EC was notified officially on Wednesday by State Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar that Taib would be vacating the seat today.

According to the 2011 state election electoral roll, Balingian constituency has a total 11,792 voters.

Out of the total 69 percent or 8093 voters are Malay and Melanau, there are 2,188 Iban voters making up 19 percent while 12 percent or 1,510 are Chinese voters.

In 2011 state election, Taib won with a majority of 5,154 votes, defeating independent candidate Datuk Salleh Jafaruddin who garnered 1,056 votes and PKR’s Suriati Abdullah who polled 871 votes. - theborneopost

Angkat sumpah dan ikrar taat setia sebagai Ketua Menteri Sarawak yang baharu

Tan Sri Adenan Satem, 70, menandatangani surat akuan jawatan selepas mengangkat sumpah dan ikrar taat setia sebagai Ketua Menteri Sarawak yang baharu jawatan di hadapan Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng di Astana Negeri, 9.40 pagi tadi. - Foto Azahan Rosli

A legacy of leadership

HE was only 27 when he was sworn in as a State minister of Sarawak on July 22, 1963.

For the next 50 years, with 13 years as Federal Minister and 33 years as Chief Minister, he lived up to his own unique legacy – by being a leader with responsibility, wisdom and vision doing something significant that charted the path of the nation, especially Sarawak, to development.

Abdul Taib Mahmud was born into an aristocratic family on May 21, 1936 in Miri.

He won a Colombo Plan Scholarship to study law in the University of Adelaide, Australia. Upon graduation, he declined the offer to be on the bench as a judge but chose to return to Sarawak to serve as a Public Prosecutor. He brought back with him a barrister’s degree and a young beautiful Australian wife of Turkish descent.

Sarawak then was an economic backwater. Its longest road was a stretch of dirt road from Kuching outwards, schools were ramshackle and the children went to school barefoot, with 5,000 village and longhouses scattered all over the state with virtually no infrastructure.

The task of development was almost impossible, not even the British could do so with their over 100 years of colonial rule.

The turning point of Sarawak’s history was on March 26, 1981 – the day Pehin Sri Abdul Taib was sworn in as the fourth Chief Minister.

It was a time when political instability reigned supreme with members of political parties and state assemblymen leaving one group to join the other.

The state was not only subjected to political vicissitudes with no attempt to elevate its economic stagnation but also had a tense relationship with the federal government.

Against a backdrop of political uncertainty, there was no doubt in the mind of the first (then retired) Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj that Taib, with his impressive track record, would be best man to be the Chief Minister of Sarawak.

The Tunku counted Taib as one of the most capable members of his Cabinet. For Taib, the affable and charismatic Tunku had been a mentor and father figure.

Taib’s years as a federal minister and massive victory of Barisan Nasional (BN) in Sarawak in the parliamentary and state elections allowed Taib to garner support and harness all the strength to develop Sarawak through federal funding.

Taib was innovative and resourceful. He introduced a new policy that is the envy of many – the Politics of Development.

Political infighting whether inter or intra were to be subordinated to economic development because the goal was no longer political fighting but development and economic prosperity for the state.

Through the Politics of Development, the incidence of poverty from a soaring 70 per cent was brought down until it went as low as a single digit. Currently the rate of poverty in Sarawak is 2.5 per cent.

Taib is a visionary leader, not only that, he is a man of action with concepts and ideas. He is methodical and meticulous.

Education is the best leveller in an uneven playing field. Where you start is not important. What is important is how to take opportunities be they educational or economic to make it an even playing field.

This doctrine of levelling the uneven playing field through education, knowledge, entrepreneurial skill was done under the policy of the New Reality, an elevation of the Politics of Development.

Taib brought in Australian universities to Sarawak. Today, in Sarawak there are six universities. His former constituency in Samarahan was converted into an education hub.

Under Taib, the budget for 2013 was RM4.9 billion without taking into consideration federal funding. Sarawak has no external debt. The financial ratings by Moody’s Investors Service and fellow international company Standard & Poor’s gave a consistent rating of 3A, which is comparable with the financial ratings of Saudi Arabia and Petronas.

As a result of Taib’s policy of development, Sarawak’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth exceeded the national average in 1995. To balance development between urban and rural areas, he also endorsed town planning, natural resources planning, large-scale plantations, and Native Customary Rights (NCR) land development. The Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), which was introduced in 2008, aims to diversify the future economy of Sarawak.

Since 1981, the state’s GDP has grown from RM6.5 billion to RM19.7 billion in 1995 and increased further to an estimated RM29.9 billion in 1999.

In the next five years, the state had an average real GDP growth of six per cent, building a progressive society of high quality human capital and good quality of life.

The biggest chunk of Sarawak’s GDP is oriented towards export, which contributed to nearly an RM30 billion reserve.

Taib’s strategy for the future development of Sarawak is Vision 2030 through the development of SCORE.

SCORE’s plan is to bring “the economy into the global supply chain to be part of the whole economic growth.”

The plan is to develop hydroelectric power projects. This will give Sarawak a competitive edge over other countries by providing a cheaper source of energy.

In a ministerial capacity, Taib has the unique distinction of serving with all six prime ministers – the Tunku, Tun Abdul Razak, Tun Hussien Onn, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He has met in person the last colonial governor, Sir Alexander Waddel, and also served under the first Sarawakian governor,Tun Abang Haji Openg, to the present Head of State, Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin.

On February 28, 2014 (today), Taib retires after helming the state government for 33 years. During that period, he has distinguished himself with many firsts — and ranked among his most highly acclaimed achievements must be blazing the trail of development and progress that is unprecedented in the history of Sarawak.

Taib considers his proudest achievement to be in terms of economic development, social integration and industrialisation in Sarawak. But Sarawakians will also grateful to him for another very significant contribution – the constant nurturing, fostering and preserving of racial and religious tolerance and political stability that have enabled the various ethnic and racial communities to live side by side — in unity and harmony — all these years.

He changed the skyline, economic and political landscapes of the Land of the Hornbills but has also left a lasting legacy, reflecting our unique identity and an unwavering resovle to preserve our racial and religious harmony.

Indeed, Taib leaves behind a Sarawak with a place in the sun for everyone — including the opposition.

He is currently married to Puan Sri Raghad Kurdi Taib, an Arab from Syria.

DURING his tenure, Taib has been able to facilitate the cooperation of leaders from different political parties to reach a common political consensus.

Under his leadership, Sarawak BN scored spectacular victories during parliamentary and state elections:

Parliamentary Elections:

1990 – 17 seats out of 27

1995 – 26 seats out of 27

1999 – all 28 seats contested.

2004 – 27 seats out of 28

2008 – 30 seats out of 31

2013 – 25 seats out of 31

State Elections:

1991 – 49 seats out of 56

1996 – 57 out of 62

2001 – 60 out of 62

2006 – 62 out of 71

2011 – 55 out of 71

These show that Sarawak under Taib’s leadership has contributed tremendously to the victory of BN in the nation in most of the elections.

For Taib’s outstanding and sterling service and contributions to the nation and state he received state, national and also international awards, as follows:

(1) Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) which carries the title Datuk by Sabah State Government in 1972;

(2) Darjah Utama Yang Amat Mula Bintang Kenyalang Sarawak (DA) which carries the title Datuk Amar in 1974;

(3) Thai Royal Decoration of Knight Grand Cross Award, First Class (KtWE) from the Thai Government in 1979;

(4) Korean Order of Unification (KOU) Award from Korea in 1979;

(5) Datuk Patinggi Bintang Kenyalang (DP) which carries the title Datuk Patinggi in 1981;

(6) Darjah Kartika Eka Paksi Naraya (KEPN) by the Republic of Indonesia in 1986;

(7) Darjah Gemilang Seri Melaka (DGSM) which carries the title Dato Seri by the state government of Melaka in 1988;

(8) Darjah Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM) which carries the title Tan Sri by Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Almutawakkil Alallah Sultan Iskandar (DK) Yang di-Pertuan Agong Malaysia in 1989;

(9) Darjah Mahkota Brunei Yang Amat Mulia (SPMB), First Class which carries the title Datuk Seri Paduka by Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam in March 1989;

(10) Darjah Seri Setia Diraja Kedah (SSDK) which carries the title Datuk Seri by DYMM Sultan Kedah in 1991;

(11) Darjah Kebesaran Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang Yang Amat Dimulia Peringkat Pertama Sri Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang (SSAP) which carries the title Dato Sri in 1992;

(12) Darjah Seri Sultan Salahuddin Aziz (SSSA) which carries the title Dato by DYMM Sultan Selangor in 1994;

(13) Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Terengganu (SPMT) Kelas Pertama, in 1996;

(14) Seri Panglima Darjah Kinabalu (SPDK) Kelas Pertama which carries the title “Datuk Seri Panglima” by the Sabah state government in 1999;

(15) Pingat Cemerlang Delima (Emas) (PCD) in conjunction with the State’s 40th anniversary of independence in Malaysia in 2003;

(16) Darjah Satria Bintang Sarawak (SBS) which carries the title Pehin Sri by TYT Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak in 2003;

(17) Darjah Panglima Pangkuan Negeri, which carries the title Datuk Seri by TYT Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pulau Pinang in 2005;

(18) Darjah Kerabat Johor Yang Amat Dihormati Pangkat Pertama (DKI) by DYMM Baginda Sultan Johor DatulTakzim;

(19) Darjah Kerabat Sri Indera Mahkota Pahang Yang Amat Dihormati (DK Pahang) by Sultan Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah in 2007; and

(20) Darjah Seri Utama Mahkota Wilayah (SUMW) by DYMM Yang di-Pertuan Agong Malaysia which carries the title “Datuk Seri” in 2008 in conjunction with Federal Territory Day in 2008.

Apart from the above, he also received various awards and appointments as follows:

(1) Semangat Padi (Emas), the Scout’s highest award by TYT Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Datuk Patinggi Ahmad Zaidi Adruce Muhammed Noor in 1990;

(2) Pro-Chancellor, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, Aug 8, 1990;

(3) The Honorary Degree of the University of Adelaide by University of Adelaide, Australia in 1994;

(4) Pro-Chancellor, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak in July 1995;

(5) Ijazah Kehormat Doktor Sains (Hon DSc) by Universiti Putra Malaysia in 1997;

(6) Ahli Kehormat Mayo Alumni Association by Mayo Clinic Alumni Association, Rochester, USA in 1998;

(7) Fellow Kehormat Akademi Sains Islam by Islamic Academy of Sciences, Amman, Jordan in 1998;

(8) Ijazah Kehormat Doctor of Technology by Curtin University of Technology, Australia in 2000;

(9) Honorary Doctorate of Leadership by Lim Kok Wing University of Creative Technology, Kuala Lumpur in April 2010;

(10) The Brand Laureate Brand Icons Leadership Awards 2012 by The Asia Pacific Brands Foundation, Kuala Lumpur in 2012; and

(11) Honorary Doctorate in Development Studies by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak in October 2012. - theborneopost

Taib’s legacy is the state’s continued growth

WHEN Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud steps down today, the era of his leadership as Chief Minister of Sarawak will come to an end but the legacy of development and progress he leaves behind is poised for further growth.

His tenure at the helm saw a period of unparalled growth that transformed the state from one of the poorest in the nation into one on the threshold of a high income society.

When Taib took over as Chief Minister from his uncle Tun Abdul Rahman Yakub in 1981, 70 per cent of the people were living below the poverty line but today, 33 years later, the poverty rate in the state is just 2.5 per cent.

Sarawak is on the cusp of achieving its goal as an industrialised and high-income society. The phenomenal growth of the state’s economy was the result of Taib’s vision and ability to maintain political stability despite challenges of the state’s multi-ethnicity.

Taib’s contribution to the state’s growth is best summed up by his designated successor Tan Sri Adenan Satem who recently described him a ‘one in a million’ leader.

Adenan said there is only one Taib Mahmud and there will never be another like him, quoting a line from a popular song … out of the million stars in the universe, you are the one that shines.

However, the true greatness of a leader is not only measured by what he has achieved during his term in office but more by the opportunities for further development he leaves for his successor.

This is one aspect of Taib’s leadership often overlooked as accolades and tributes pour in for his Chief Ministership par excellence.

A look at the direction he has steered Sarawak into in terms of development growth today through his astute planning and foresight leaves no doubt that his impeccable track record is not quantified solely by what he has achieved but equally so, by the development initiatives he has put in place to ensure continuity of progress for the state after his tenure.

Taib’s shoes are admittedly too big for a single person to fill but through his visionary development strategies such as the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), he has left a blueprint for leaders coming after him to implement and achieve as a team.

While Sarawak will miss Taib’s leadership, there is no danger of the state’s progress coming to an abrupt stop because he has made sure plans he laid out to take the state to even greater heights will be carried out by the leaders he has groomed over the years.

Taib’s retirement will not mark the end of an era of growth. Rather, it will herald — and ensure — the continuation of the development tempo he has initiated.

During his stewardship, Sarawak has attained unprecedented socio-economic development and what will be just as significant is the potential for growth he has created for the state when he hands the leadership baton to Adenan.

Taib has made sure the best is yet to come for Sarawak after he retires – that is the true measure of his in comparable contributions to the people. - theborneopost

Previous Chief Ministers of Sarawak

First Chief Minister

Stephen Kalong Ningkan

Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan (1920-1997) was the first Chief Minister of Sarawak from 1963 to 1966.

DOB: Aug 20, 1920 in Betong, Sarawak.

School: St Augustine’s

· Mixed Iban and Chinese parentage

· Chinese name: Mok Teck Boon

· Grandfather Mok Bak Seng born in Namhoi, Kwangtung Province, China in 1870. He took 6-year-old Ningkan to China so he could learn the culture and way of life there. Mok died on Oct 20, 1963.

· Ningkan’s mother Kuni Karong died of stomach complications on June 14, 1969.

· Ningkan learnt the Japanese language during the Japanese Occupation of Sarawak.

He loved singing and movies. The Japanese song ‘Kuni No Hana’ (Flower of the Nation) and Terang Bulan were among his favourites. He was also a fan of P Ramlee’s movies.

Career

· Rubber Fund clerk from 1938 to 1939.

· Joined the Sarawak Constabulary from 1940 to 1946. He was the Police Constable in 1942.

· Joined the Service Reconnaissance Department in 1944, an underground movement based      in Jesselton (Kota Kinabalu).

· Became a teacher in St Augustine’s from 1947 to 1950.

· Worked at a Shell Company hospital in Kuala Belait, Brunei for several years. While there, he   was chairman of the Shell Dayak Club. He also took up law via correspondence from Regent     Institute and Metropolitan College at St Albans, London respectively.

· He was founder and president of the Sarawak Dayak Association from 1958 to 1960.

  Political Career

· Ningkan returned to Betong and with other founding members, established the Sarawak        National Party (SNAP) on April 10, 1961.

· 1962 election saw SNAP winning many seats, earning Ningkan the trust to become the first  Chief Minister of Sarawak.

· In October 1962, Ningkan played an important role in forming the Sarawak Chapter of      Alliance Party and served as its secretary-general.

· Ningkan was appointed the first chief minister of Sarawak on July 21, 1963 by then governor   Sir Alexander Waddell.

· The 1966 Sarawak constitutional crisis saw Ningkan being ousted from office on June 16,    1966 but eventually reinstated by the Borneo High Court on Sept 7, 1966. The Malaysian  government amended the Sarawak Constitution to give the Sarawak governor the right to    commence the Council Negri meeting. A vote of no confidence was passed on Sept 23, 1966  resulting in the removal of Ningkan from the chief minister office for the second time.

Ningkan died peacefully aged 76 on March 31, 1997 at the Normah Specialist Medical Centre, Kuching.

His funeral was held at St Thomas’ Cathedral and Ningkan was buried at The Anglican Cemetery at Jalan Batu Kitang. The lyrics of Terang Bulan are engraved on the back of his tombstone.

Awards: DA, PNBS, PDK, PPM (1st Class)

DCM: James Wong Kim Min

Succeeded by: Tawi Sli

President of SNAP from 1961 – 1974

Succeeded by Dunstan Endawie Enchana

Children (7):

1. Paul Murphy Ningkan

2. Marina Siew Ling Ningkan

3. Flora Ningkan

4. Diana Inoi Ningkan

5. Winston Beng Wai Ningkan

6. Marharet Ningkan

7. Gerald Bala Ningkan

Occupation: Politician

Religion: Christian

Second Chief Minister

Tawi Sli

Dato’ Penghulu Tawi Sli (June 12, 1912 – 1987)

Born in Banting, Sarawak and received formal education at St Thomas school in Kuching until Form 3.

Career

· Teacher at a mission school while undergoing a three-year training programme to become a pastor.

· Served as a clerk with the government until he retired in 1961.

· Appointed Penghulu in 1963 and he started to become active in politics. He was secretary of SNAP Simanggang branch. He later resigned and joined Parti Pesaka Sarawak in 1966.

· Tawi Sli was appointed chief minister of Sarawak by then Governor, Abang Haji Openg during the 1966 Sarawak Constitutional Crisis.

He was chief minister for three months before the Borneo High Court reinstated Stephen Kalong Ningkan as the legitimate chief minister. Tawi Sli was later sworn in as chief minister for the second time on Sept 23, 1966 following the successful ousting of Ningkan from the chief minister’s post.

· Tawi Sli retired from politics in 1974 and later became involved in business until his death in 1987.

· He was succeeded by Abdul Rahman Yakub.

Third Chief Minister

Abdul Rahman Yakub

Tun Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Rahman Yakub (Jan 3, 1928), of Melanau descent from Mukah was the third Chief Minister of Sarawak and the fourth Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak (Governor Sarawak).

Born in Kampung Jepak, Bintulu, Sarawak to fisherman Tuan Wan Yakub bin Wan Yusuf and Siti Hajar bt Haji Mohd Tahir a housewife.

Rahman Yakub first attended a Malay school then Sekolah Anchi in Miri. He later transferred to St Joseph Miri until his studies was interrupted by the Japanese invasion.

Rahman Yakub was very active in sports during his schooldays, especially football. In his later years, he enjoyed playing golf. Rahman Yakub is very religious and even conducted free religious classes for public after leaving active politics in 1985.

Career

He worked as an oil-tester for Sarawak Shell Company and as a school teacher before being accepted as a Native Officer in the Sarawak Civil Service in 1948.

Rahman Yakub graduated from University of Southampton in the United Kingdom as a trained lawyer and worked as a deputy public prosecutor in the Sarawak Legal Department from 1959 to 1963. He was the first Bumiputera from Sarawak to graduate as a lawyer in 1958 from Lincoln’s Inn.

The first Prime Minister of Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman bought Rahman Yakub into politics while the second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak mentored him.

Rahman Yakub was the deputy Lands and Mines Minister in the 1960s.

Rahman Yakub was one of the proponents for Malaysia creating its own oil company, now known as Petronas.

He also founded the now defunct Bank Utama Berhad in Malaysia.

Rahman Yakub was education minister before returning to Sarawak to become chief minister in 1970. He made a bold move by changing the medium of instruction for all schools and higher learning institutions from English to Malay language. He was also credited for the creation of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 1970. He also abolished the primary six common entrance examinations to enable primary six pupils to continue with their secondary education.

Rahman Yakub won the Kuala Rajang state constituency during the resumption of the 1969 state election in 1970 representing Parti Bumiputra Sarawak (BUMIPUTERA) which was part of the Sarawak Alliance. The election results did not yield any party with a clear majority. Rahman was able to convince SUPP to form a coalition government with him as the chief minister.

He was called by Tun Abdul Razak to tackle the communist insurgency in Sarawak. Peace was restored when Bong Kee Chok together with 482 communist guerillas surrendered their arms in 1974 after the Sri Aman Operation Rahman Yakub initiated.

He stepped down on March 26, 1981 as chief minister after undergoing heart surgery in London. He became Governor of Sarawak from April 2, 1981 until April 2, 1985 before quitting due to health reasons.

Abdul Taib Mahmud succeeded Rahman as chief minister.

Spouse(s): Toh Puan Normah (Deceased), Toh Puan Siti Maemunah

Religion: Islam

Fourth Chief Minister (after Feb 28, 2014)

Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud

Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud (born May 21, 1936 in Miri, Sarawak) was the fourth chief minister of Sarawak. He was also the state Financial Minister and Resource Planning and Environment minister.

Taib is the president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) which is part of the Barisan Nasional coalition. He is of Melanau descent.

Holding the post of chief minister of Sarawak, Taib is the longest serving chief minister in Malaysia. He is also the second longest serving parliamentarian in Malaysia after Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

Early years

Born in impoverished circumstances in 1936, Taib was raised by his uncle Tun Datuk Patinggi Abdul Rahman Yakub. Taib’s early schooling was at St Joseph’s primary school in Miri and he later won a scholarship to study in St Joseph’s secondary school in Kuching. After school he planned to become a doctor but was persuaded by Rahman Yakub to take up law.

In 1958, his excellence in the Higher School Certificate examination earned him a Colombo Plan scholarship allowing Taib to read law at the University of Adelaide in South Australia. He graduated in 1960 with Bachelor of Laws.

After the demise of his father, Taib took his siblings under his wing and disciplined them in studies and in looking after the household.

Taib pursued his postgraduate studies at Harvard International Summer course in 1964. He has written and published several Islamic books and works. Taib is also an ardent fan of P Ramlee.

Career

On returning to Sarawak in 1962, Taib worked in the Crown Council from 1962 to 1963. He then joined the State Legislative Council of Sarawak on July 22, 1963 and was appointed state minister for communications and works from 1963 to 1966 and minister of Development and Forestry in 1967.

He was vice chairman of Parti Berjasa Sarawak in 1964.

Taib was appointed Federal Assistant Minister for Commerce and Industry from 1968 to 1970. He represented Parti Bumiputera Sarawak (BUMIPUTRA) which was a component party of the Sarawak Alliance in the Malaysian general elections of 1969. During the 1970 parliamentary election for Sarawak, he was elected MP for Kota Samarahan seat.

He was later appointed to numerous portfolios including deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (1970-1972) and Minister for Natural Resources (1972-1974).

In 1973, Taib was appointed deputy president of the newly formed Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) before subsequently becoming president of the party.

Abdul Rahman Yakub was Taib’s political mentor for 20 years.

After winning the Sebandi seat (now Asajaya) by election in 1981, Taib was appointed State Minister for Land and Mines before succeeding Abdul Rahman Yakub as Chief Minister of Sarawak. He held the Sebandi seat until 1987 and won the seat which was renamed Asajaya constituency.

In the 2001 state election, Taib decided to contest in Balingian which he won.

Taib served in many public and voluntary bodies and represented the government at various international conferences.

In 1985 Taib removed Abdul Rahman Yakub from the office of Governor of Sarawak, a move which was one of the catalysts that led to a political crisis culminating in the Ming Court Affair in 1987.

Taib outmaneuvered his rivals by calling a snap state election in 1987 where he won by a narrow margin. His coalition had won 28 out of the 48 seats in the state assembly which was later boosted when he received 8 assemblymen who defected from PBDS.

Taib’s vision for Sarawak to become the richest state in Malaysia by 2020 saw manufacturing, industrial and tourism sectors given special attention. Town planning, natural resources planning, large scale plantations and native customary land development were also endorsed.

Sarawak became the first state in Malaysia to fully implement e-government initiatives while the Sarawak State Library is the first e-library in Malaysia.

Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) introduced in 2008 is aimed at diversifying the future economy of Sarawak.

Higher education for Sarawakians have also been emphasised with the state investing in developing new institutions.

Despite the onslaught of attacks by the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, Taib led PBB to a clean sweep of all seats contested in the 2011 state election thus winning an eighth consecutive term as chief minister.

Awards

In July 2010, Taib received the “Lifetime Achievement” by Asia HRD Congress for his contributions towards human capital development in Sarawak especially for the establishment of University Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).

In December 2001, he was appointed “Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia” for “service to The Australian – Malaysian bilateral relations”.

Taib also holds numerous honorary degrees from universities including, an Honorary Degree from the University of Adelaide, Australia; an Honorary Doctorate from Universiti Putra, Malaysia; Honorary Doctor of Technology Degree from Curtin University of Technology, Australia and Honorary Fellow of Islamic Academy of Sciences at the Islamic Academy of Sciences, Amman, Jordan.

Personal

Spouse(s): Laila Taib (1959 – 2009 Deceased)

Ragad Waleed Alkurdi (Married in 2010)

Children: Jamilah Hamidah Taib

Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib

Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib

Hanifah Hajar Taib

Occupation: Politician

Religion: Islam

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