‘Adenan was well loved by the people’
KUCHING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak says the fact that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem is well loved by the people.
Adenan issued policies that gave people confidence in the government administration and also those that caused people to love him more, Najib told reporters after paying his last respect to Adenan at his home in Santubong here on Wednesday night.
Najib said the nation has lost a leader with calibre in Adenan while Sarawak, a leader who was well-loved.
“First of all, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of the late CM. For Malaysia we have lost a leader of calibre and for Sarawak, a leader who was well loved by the people,” he said.
Najib pointed out that Adenan’s greatest achievement as Chief Minister was leading Sarawak Barisan Nasional ( BN) to a landslide victory in the May 7, 2016 state election.
“The love and admiration the people had for Adenan was shown in last year’s state election, which concluded with Sarawak Barisan Nasional obtaining a landslide election victory,” he said.
On a personal note, the prime minister said he will remember Adenan as a personal and loyal friend. He also said that he has followed Adenan’s political career closely.
Najib, who is also BN chairman and UMNO president, was among the many VVIPs including several members of the federal cabinet paying Adenan their last respect at his home in Santubong on Wednesday night.
First of all, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of the late CM. For Malaysia we have lost a leader of calibre and for Sarawak, a leader who was well loved by the people.
Najib was accompanied by wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
The prime minister and wife spent about half an hour extending emotional support to Adenan’s widow Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu and her children.
From the other side of the political divide, Parti Pribumi Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin also paid his last respects to the late Chief Minister.
Muhyiddin said Adenan was also his good friend as he knew him well for a very long time ago.
“I was shocked when receiving news of his demise. He is well respected by most Malaysians and Sarawakians. He (Adenan) talked straight from the heart. It is undeniable that many Sarawakians will miss him. Capable leader like him is hard to find,” said Muhyiddin who is also former Deputy Prime Minister.
Adenan, he said had contributed tremendously to the development of Sarawak.
“During my tenure as Deputy prime minister, Adenan joined me during my walkabout programmes in Sarawak. And people were impressed with his speeches,” he said adding that Adenan never deviated from making policies that were very important to the people.
Meanwhile other Federal Cabinet ministers paying their last respect at Adenan’s residence were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kasim and Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri; International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed; Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof; Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim; and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
Also present were Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, and Permodalan Nasional Bhd chairman Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar.
Adenan succumbed to heart failure at the SGH Heart Centre in Kota Samarahan at 1.24pm on Wednesday. He was admitted at the centre on Saturday after complaining of having chest pain.
He would have turned 73 this coming Jan 27, 2017. He was appointed the fifth Chief Minister of Sarawak on March 1 2014, succeeding Tun Penin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud who is now the Yang Di-Pertua Negeri ( Head of State). Taib held the record of being the longest Chief Minister at 33 years.
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Prime Minister