JAKARTA: The former Sarawak Head of State, Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud emerges as the only name in the minds and hearts of the people of Sarawak for more than 60 years.
Political analyst Datuk Dr Jeniri Amir. who is also a Senior Fellow of the National Council of Professors, believed that this record would be difficult to break by any political leader after this.
He said the late Tun Taib was in the political arena and Sarawak’s first Cabinet since 1963, at the federal level for 13 years and was the Chief Minister for 33 years before becoming the Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri.
“During that 60-year period (Tun Taib’s administration), we cannot imagine the impact of his political strategy thinking policies, especially for Sarawak under the political ideas of development and new reality.
“He ruled based on the principles of change, opportunity, mobility and equality,” he said when interviewed by Suara Sarawak here today (Feb 21).
Jeniri added that Tun Taib not only deserved to be named as the Father of Development, but also the Father of Sarawak’s Modernisation.
He said that this recognition was based on his uniqueness, contribution, service and involvement in the political field through various platforms, ministries and his position in the Land of the Hornbill.
Not only that, he said, Tun Taib was seen to have succeeded in uniting around 27 tribes in Sarawak.
“He has also established Dewan Suarah (Civic Centre), which is a hall where all the people gather for activities and can ultimately unite them,” he said.
The late Tun Taib was reported to have passed away at around 4.28 am on Wednesday at a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur.
