KUCHING: Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has been reappointed to serve for two more years as Sarawak’s Head of the State, his third term.
He received his instrument of appointment from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara yesterday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob; Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg; Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili; Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri and Deputy Minister of Rural Development Datuk Hasbi Habibollah were also present during the ceremony.
Taib is expected to return to Kuching today to take his oath of office in a swearing-in ceremony at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex.
Sarawak Public Communications Unit (UKAS) will broadcast the livestream of the swearing-in ceremony at 3pm.
Taib served as a judge’s associate in the Supreme Court of South Australia after having completed his law studies at the University of Adelaide, before returning to Sarawak.
He entered the political arena in 1963 when he joined the Sarawak Legislative Council and served until 1966.
He was appointed Sarawak minister for communication and works as well as minister of development and forestry before entering politics at the federal level until he became chief minister.
Born on May 21, 1936 and the eldest of 10 siblings, Taib had also served as the fourth chief minister of Sarawak for 33 years from March 1981 to February 2014.
Having served as chief minister he became the seventh Head of State, first from March 1, 2014 to Feb 28, 2018, then from March 1, 2018 to Feb 28, 2022.
