Sarawak’s icon: Taib’s illustrious career spanning over 60 years from minister to governor

Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud

KUCHING, Jan 26: Sarawak’s Seventh Governor, Tun Pein Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, has stepped down as Head of State.

Taib served as Sarawak’s Head of State or TYT (Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak) since March 2014, following his resignation as Sarawak Chief Minister after almost 33 years.

The term for a Sarawak Governor spans four years, and in 2022, Taib’s term was extended for an additional two years until Feb 28, 2024.

The distinguished statesman, who took office as the fourth Chief Minister of Sarawak on March 26, 1981, succeeding his uncle Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’kub, was born on May 21, 1936, to Mahmud Abang Yahya and Hamidah Ya’kub.

Taib worked as a judge’s associate in the Supreme Court of South Australia after completing his law studies at the University of Adelaide.

He later returned to Sarawak, entering politics in 1963 as a member of the Sarawak Legislative Council, serving until 1966. During this period, he held portfolios such as Sarawak Minister for Communication and Works (1963-1966) and Minister of Development and Forestry (1966).

His federal-level career commenced with his victory in the Samarahan Parliamentary seat in 1970. Subsequently, he held various ministerial roles, including Deputy Minister of Works, Post, and Communication (1970), Primary Industries Minister (1972), Defence Minister (1978), Acting Foreign Minister (1979), and Federal Territories Minister (1980).

On March 9, 1981, Taib resigned as Federal Territories Minister to contest and triumph in the Sebandi State by-election.

Following his unopposed victory, he was appointed Sarawak Land and Mines Minister. On March 26, 1981, Taib was appointed the fourth Chief Minister of Sarawak and served for 33 years.

Taib held the Sebandi seat until 1987, when he was elected assemblyman for the Asajaya constituency. In the 2001 State election, he decided to contest in Balingian and won, serving as its incumbent until he stepped down from his chief minister post.

Taib wed Laila Taib on Jan 13, 1959, but on April 29, 2009, Laila passed away. On December 18, 2010, he married again for the second time to Ragad Waleed Alkurdi. — DayakDaily