Jabu mourns loss of ‘good friend, mentor and big brother’

Former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang has described the untimely demise of Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud as a loss of “a good friend, a great mentor and a big brother”.

He said Taib had sacrificed a good 61 years of his life since 1963 to serve as the chief minister and head of state.

“He devoted his time to the development of Sarawak from the time when Sarawak was at the bottom three of the worst performing states within Malaysia, to climbing up to top three, the best three within Malaysia.

“Under his leadership, Sarawak has prospered with leaps and bounds, and we are very sad that he has left us.

“I lost a very good friend, my great mentor, and a big brother. We grew together through our party PBB, stabilising the politics in Sarawak through many attempts and challenges in the political circle supported by the rakyat.

“He stabilised Sarawak’s politics and also brought together opposing parties for the state’s betterment, and we are very sad to lose a very great leader,” he told reporters when met during the arrival of Taib’s remains at Kuching International Airport yesterday.

Jabu said under Taib’s leadership, Sarawak managed to attain political stability and racial harmony.

“His legacy is a testament to his exceptional leadership.The support of the people and the legacy he left behind must be emulated by future generations, and I believe all the multiracial and multi-religious communities in Sarawak will work together following his legacy and the leadership by GPS government under Premier Abang Jo,” he said.

Another former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, said Taib’s greatest contribution was strengthening racial harmony in the state.

It was also the reason why he got involved in politics in the first place, he added.

“Under his guidance and advice, I was able to contribute a lot of things, most specifically to the development of Sarawak. His contributions have fostered a greater sense of unity among the people of Sarawak.

“The other contribution that he made was that he did not allow the federal government to interfere with matters of Sarawak which I feel is very important, because we managed to develop Sarawak the way we want to,” Dr Chan said.

He also expressed his belief that Mirians are truly grateful to Taib for developing Miri city into what it is today.

“All in all, he was a great leader and the reason why Sarawak is the way it is today,” he added.