TAIB’S POLICIES TRANSFORMED STATE
His 32 years as Sarawak CM elevated state’s image and standing
THE late Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, the father of modern Sarawak, played an instrumental role in the state’s transformation. His death yesterday left an indelible mark on those who had benefited from the developmentoriented policies he introduced during his 32-year tenure as Sarawak’s fourth chief minister from 1981 to 2014.
His policies not only helped to elevate Sarawak’s image and standing to a “renowned brand”, but also laid the foundation for his successors, the late Tan Sri Adenan Satem and Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, to take the state to greater heights.
Taib, of Melanau descent, has been in Sarawak’s political scene since the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
He was born in Miri on May 21, 1936.
The Adelaide-trained lawyer, the eldest among 10 siblings, was the nephew of third Sarawak chief minister and fourth Yang Dipertua Negeri Sarawak, the late Tun Abdul Rahman Yakub.
He completed his primary and secondary schooling at SR St Joseph in Miri and SM St Joseph in Kuching.
Later, on the advice of Rahman, Taib pursued his tertiary education in law at the University of Adelaide in Australia until he obtained his first degree in 1960.
Upon returning to Sarawak, he was appointed as public prosecutor in the Crown Council from 1962 to 1963.
He made history by becoming the youngest person to be included in the state cabinet — under the leadership of Sarawak’s first chief minister, Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan — after he was appointed state communications and works minister in 1963 at the age of 27.
He was elected Kota Samarahan member of parliament in 1970. He would represent the constituency for 38 years until 2008.
He then took on the call of prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj to serve at the federal level, where he excelled in the portfolios assigned to him.
These included that of general planning and socio-economic research minister, primary industries minister, defence minister and finally, as federal territories minister.
Taib returned to Sarawak when he was appointed chief minister on March 26, 1981, taking over from Rahman.
He resigned on Feb 28, 2014, to be appointed the seventh governor.
As chief minister, he united the people and created political stability with his development-oriented policies.
His achievements included the establishment of the Bintulu Development Authority to harness oil and gas resources in the state; setting up new administrative divisions, such as Mukah, Betong and Samarahan; and elevating Kuching and Miri as cities.
Taib’s other achievements included setting up Laila Taib College in Sibu and founding University of Technology Sarawak in Sibu, Swinburne University of Techology in Kuching and Curtin University Malaysia in Miri.