Sarawak leaders confirm Taib to step down… before next state elections

Sarawak Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing (pic) said Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud “will do it” when asked about the widespread speculation today that the long-serving leader is stepping down soon.

The speculation, which a national newspaper also reported with a headline declaring Taib will step down this month, reportedly angered the Chief Minister's Office.

“I believe he will do it. The chief minister had said many times that he will retire mid-term after the last state election (in 2011).

“But if you ask me exactly when, I don't know. Who will be his chosen successor? I also don't know,” Masing said.

State Assistant Youth Development Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah fuelled talk of Taib’s imminent departure when he said “it could be any time but it is definitely within this term”.

Dr Masing added that whoever was picked to be the next chief minister, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), which he helms, will support.

PRS is the second largest party in the state Barisan Nasional coalition.

The speculation on Taib's retirement had been going on for several years now but became rife in recent days due to two upcoming events.

This weekend Taib is scheduled to chair the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Supreme Council on Saturday and then the state Barisan Nasional supreme council on Sunday.

He reportedly had summoned all members of parliament and state assemblymen to attend the Sunday meeting with Karim adding fuel to the mix when he said Taib could use the meeting to make some “important announcement”.

At the end of the month, the tenure of Sarawak's head of state Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng is coming to an end.

The extremely unusual extension of the 92-year-old Abang Muhammad's tenure as the Yang DiPertua Negeri, or TYT as is popularly referred here, for a few months until February 28 fitted the popular scenario that had been drawn up that when Taib steps down, he would be appointed as the next TYT.

One of Taib's political secretaries, however, does not think Taib would step down so soon.

He agreed that Taib would one day step down but “not so soon”.

“Too early to retire,” he said as he dismissed speculations that the retirement could be imminent.

He said he does not believe Taib would step down and hand over the post “in this turbulent times”, referring to the fears in the Cabinet that religious intolerance in the peninsula could spread to Sarawak amidst reports that peninsula-based Muslim non-governmental organisations are secretly converting Dayaks in defiance of a state government policy and on the threat of Umno spreading its wings here.

“Its easy to be the TYT. Its not easy to be the chief minister in times like these.

“Not everyone can become CM,” he said.

He, however, believed that when the time comes for Taib to make the announcement, it would be a “surprise announcement”.

A political analyst with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Dr Jeniri Amir, is another who agreed that the longest serving chief minister currently will step down as “his time is up”.

Jeniri picked Housing Minister Datuk Abang Johari Tun Openg to replace Taib.

Abang Johari, Second Resource Planning and Environment Minister Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hassan and Special Functions Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem are the three names that have for years been widely seen as possible replacements

Jeniri said Abang Johari had a greater chance due to his proven track record and has held senior positions in PBB for a long time.

He dismissed Awang Tengah's chances as he said people still perceive him as junior for the position.

Taib became chief minister in 1981 after taking over from his uncle Tun Abdul Rahman Yakub. – February 5, 2014.