Lee credits Taib with elevating Miri to city status, ensuring religious harmony

Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s efforts and unwavering support enabled Miri to be elevated to a city during his time as chief minister, said Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin.

In paying tribute to the former head of state, who passed away at the age 87 in Kuala Lumpur around 4.40am yesterday, the state Transport Minister said Taib always championed the city of his birth.

“The strong support from the late Tun Taib, who was born in Miri, was evident in the setting up of Curtin University, petroleum museum, and the rapid development and urbanisation, which are requirements for elevation to city status,” he told The Borneo Post.

Under Taib’s watch, he said Miri became Sarawak’s second city in 2005 after Kuching.

Lee pointed out Miri owed much of its development and progress to the Taib, who was the architect of a modern Sarawak that is racially and religiously harmonious.

“Taib was responsible for Sarawak’s enduring political stability. He was very firm in keeping out political parties from outside Sarawak, including Umno,” he added.

Lee, who was a former political secretary to Taib when the latter was chief minister, said racial and religious harmony were also reflected in Taib’s statewide visits during different festivals every year, including Chinese New Year visits to Miri.

Another enduring legacy, which started under the latter’s time as chief minister was the Miri Christmas Parade, which has now grown into a major annual event.

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

“He helped to develop Sarawak to what it is today!” he said.