State funeral to be held for Taib today
Members of the public can pay their last respects to the late Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex here today from 8am to 11.30am.
The former chief minister and governor, who passed away in Kuala Lumpur at the age of 87 early yesterday, will be buried at the family’s cemetery in Demak Jaya a er prayers at the Demak Mosque near his residence.
The Sarawak government yesterday declared a two-day mourning period throughout the state, with all state flags to be flown half-mast.
Following Taib’s demise, funeral prayers were held at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, led by National Mosque Grand Imam Ehsan Mohd Hosni.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, and approximately 100 people consisting of family members and close friends performed the funeral prayers.
Taib’s remains were then brought to the main lecture hall of the mosque for family members and friends to pay their final respects.
Also present were his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib and his son Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib.
The body was then flown back from the air force base in Subang on board a Royal Malaysian Air Force C130 Hercules aircra , and arrived safely at Kuching International Airport (KIA) at 4.25pm.
Shortly a er the aircra landed, the body was taken to the hangar where he was accorded military honours by personnel from the 11th Ba alion Royal Malay Regiment and police.
A 17-gun salute was also fired to mark Taib’s passing.
The body was then transported to his residence, where family members and state leaders had gathered, and arrived at 5.11pm.
Taib served for three terms as governor from March 1, 2014 until Jan 26 this year, when Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar succeeded him.
He was also Sarawak’s longestserving chief minister from 1981 to 2014.
Among those paying their last respects was Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and deputy premiers Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, and Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian; Raghad, and former deputy chief ministers Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang.