Father of Modern Sarawak passes at 87
Described as the unifying force behind Sarawak’s political stability, Taib played a significant role in the state’s progress, serving as the 4th Chief Minister for 33 years, followed by another decade as the Head of State.
Former Head of State and Chief Minister of Sarawak, Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud passed on at the age of 87 on February 21, 2024 at 4.28 am at a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur. With his passing, an era has come to an end, but his contributions will continue to shape the Sarawak for decades to come.
Described as the unifying force behind Sarawak’s political stability, Taib played a significant role in the State’s development, serving as the 4th Chief Minister for 33 years and then as Head of State for another 10. On January 29, 2024, the 8th Governor of Sarawak, His Excellency Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was appointed.
“On behalf of the people of Sarawak, we wish to convey our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Tun Pehin Sri Haji Taib for devoting his life to the development and wellbeing of Sarawak. As chief minister, Pehin Sri Haji Taib showed his true quality as a leader of the people comprising various races and religious beliefs by unifying them and bringing political stability in Sarawak under his politics of development philosophy. Taib’s quality as a great leader is also exemplified in bringing up new leaders such as the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, myself and other young leaders. He truly is the father of modern Sarawak.”
- Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg
Born in Miri on May 21, 1936 to Mahmud Abang Yahya and Hamidah Ya’kub, Taib Mahmud is the eldest of 10 siblings, and attended early schooling in Miri before moving to Kuching to attend St. Joseph’s Secondary School. When it comes to tertiary education, Taib was adamant on taking up medicine but eventually took up law after much persuasion from his uncle. His excellent results earned him the Colombo Plan scholarship, allowing Taib to pursue law at South Australia’s University of Adelaide.
Having completed his law degree, Taib served as a judge’s associate in the Supreme Court of South Australia before returning to Sarawak in 1961 to serve as a public prosecutor. It was at this time Taib entered the local political landscape, serving at the Sarawak Legislative Council and holding extensive portfolios at state and federal level until 1981. He was only 27 when he was sworn in as state minister on July 22, 1963.
Back then, Sarawak was an economic backwater, with virtually no infrastructure besides scattered longhouses and villages, despite being under the Brooke’s and British rule for over a century. That, combined with the sheer geographical challenge of the state, threat of communist insurgencies as well as lack of funds, made the task of developing Sarawak almost impossible.
However, slowly but surely, growth bloomed across Sarawak, starting with the construction of roads and bridges that connect major towns from Simanggang all the way to Lawas. During this time, Taib excelled in every portfolio assigned, including Sarawak’s Minister of Communication and Works (1963-1966) and Minister of Development and Forestry (1966) and federal Deputy Minister of Works, Post and Communication (1970), Primary Industries Minister (1972), Defence Minister (1978), Acting Foreign Minister (1979) and Federal Territories Minister (1980), before resigning to contest in the Sebandi state by-election. His last appointment was as Sarawak Land and Mines Minister before being appointed the fourth Chief Minister of Sarawak on
March 26, 1981.
At the time, Sarawak was one, if not, the poorest state in Sarawak, with political instability and warring tribes reigning supreme and a bumpy relationship with Kuala Lumpur. As both Chief Minister and Minister of Resource Planning, Taib devoted efforts and energies to economic development through the ‘Politics of Development’ policy. Rooted in the principles of COME – Change, Opportunity, Mobility and Equality for all
Sarawakians, Taib’s guiding philosophy balances the entire spectrum of socio-economic development involving all segments of society, irrespective of race or religion.
Aimed at propelling development in the state, Taib’s ‘Politics of Development’ policy does so at an accelerated pace, effectively lifting Sarawak from its backwater position. Taib also introduced the ‘Confluence of Rivers’ concept during his time as Chief Minister, to further address challenges within the state, especially infrastructural connectivity.
Under Taib’s policy, Sarawak’s GDP growth exceeded the national average in 1995, and increased further to RM29.9 billion in 1999, with most of it oriented towards export, contributing to a reserve of nearly RM30 billion. To help balance development between urban and rural areas, Taib also endorsed town planning, natural resources planning, large-scale plantations, and native customary land development.
Under his leadership, new administrative divisions have been created, including Mukah, Betong and Samarahan, while Kuching and Miri have been elevated to city status. Halls and civic centres were also established in towns and cities across Sarawak to cater to growing communities as well as major events. Taib also played a significant role in plans for the nearly completed coastal road and the Pan-Borneo Highway; remarkable for a state where the longest road was previously a dirt road from Kuching outwards.
To further level the playing field, Taib paid special attention to education, and was instrumental in bringing in Western and Australian colleges and universities like Swinburne University and Curtin University Campus to Sarawak, even the founding of University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) as well as the setting up of Laila Taib College in Sibu and Sarawak’s first public university, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) in Kota Samarahan. He also facilitated the setup of numerous local colleges, training institutes and development programmes to equip locals with handy and diverse skills necessary to further advance Sarawak’s development.
Under his guidance, Kota Samarahan has been designated as an education hub. With UNIMAS, already in place, the Tun Abdul Razak Teachers’ Training Institute and UiTM Sarawak campus were later established, followed by important projects including the Sarawak Heart Centre, Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute and Sarawak Science Centre, as well as numerous housing projects and shopping malls.
To diversify the state’s future economy, the Regional Corridor of Development Authority (RECODA) was established to further explore Sarawak’s vast potential as a source for hydroelectric power, which led to the creation of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) in 2008 to implement numerous projects across the state, including the construction of the Batang Ai, Bakun, Baleh, and Murum Dams.
Construction of these dams have resulted in greatly improved connectivity within the state, even attracting billions in revenue and enhanced economic prospects by exporting power to other countries. Since 2016, Sarawak has been exporting electricity to West Kalimantan, with plans in the works to export electricity to Sabah and Singapore in 2024.
Taib also spearheaded the development of several industrial parks including Samajaya Industrial Park, Demak Jaya Industrial Park, and Tanjung Manis Industrial Park, creating significant job opportunities to the local community as well as professionals from relevant industries. During his 33 years as Chief Ministers, Taib also created a number of statutory bodies, including the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA),
Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), and SACOFA, while the roles of established bodies like Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) and the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA) were expanded.
While Taib considers his proudest achievements to be the state’s economic development, industrialisation, and stability, one must not forget the preserving and constant nurturing of Sarawak’s diverse ethnic, racial and religious communities throughout his years of leadership.
To continually promote Sarawak’s peace and harmony, Taib even took the initiative to reintroduce the Sarawak Regatta, strengthening the event initially organised by James Brooke back in 1872 in an effort to stop racial wars between local tribes. Today, Sarawak Regatta gathers thousands upon thousands of people on the banks of the Kuching Waterfront every year in November for a magnificent spectacle.
In recognition of his immense contributions to the development of both Sarawak and Malaysia, Taib was awarded with Sarawak’s highest award, the Satria Bintang Sarawak, bestowing him with the title Pehin Sri. He has also been bestowed with the Darjah Kebesaran Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara, the nation’s highest honour, which bestows him with the title Tun. He has also received special awards from various countries
including Australia, South Korea, and Brunei.
With Taib officially stepping down as Head of State, a political career that spanned 61 years has ended. In that time, Taib left a lasting legacy, blazing Sarawak’s trail of progress and development in a way that is unprecedented yet appropriate for Malaysia’s largest state.
Despite all the ways he has changed this state for the better, Sarawak’s most treasured qualities – its diversity and peaceful harmony – have been preserved and safeguarded under his leadership, ensuring that the Land of the Hornbills will continue to thrive and grow well into the future.
According to Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, a state funeral will be held for the late Tun Pehin Sri on February 22, 2024, where members of the public will be able to pay their respects from 8 am to 12 pm. A mourning period of 2 days was also announced by the state government (February 21, 22).
From all of us here at BorneoTalk, we would like to express our deepest condolences to Toh Puan Raghad Kurdi Taib and family members of the late Tun Pehin Sri. We will always remember and be grateful for his immense contributions to Sarawak and its people.
