Taib to resign on February 28, Adenan Satem to take over as Sarawak chief minister
He may be stepping down as the Sarawak chief minister after 33 years but Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud today sent a powerful message to Putrajaya that he remains fully in charge.
Taib today announced that his successor is to be his former brother-in-law Tan Sri Adenan Satem, after he handed over his resignation letter dated February 28 to Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abang Mohammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng.
His choice of replacement, Adenan, was not the man Putrajaya was expecting to be named as the new chief executive of Sarawak.
After Taib told the country's top leadership that he intended to step down, he was made aware that Putrajaya would work well with Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president Datuk Amar Abang Johari.
Taib submitted his resignation letter to the Yang di-Pertua Negeri at the Astana Negri in Kuching this afternoon.
Taib earlier this week had told reporters that he would seek an audience with the head of state on February 15.
Today, Taib arrived at 2.55pm and went to a closed door private discussion with State Secretary Tan Sri Morshidi Ghani.
Taib could be appointed the next Yang di-Pertua Negeri when the term of Abang Salahuddin ends, also on February 28.
In a power transition that Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing described as “very smooth”, the last official function Abang Salahuddin would perform is to swear in Adenan as the new chief minister.
If he becomes the head of state, Taib would have to vacate his Balingian state assembly seat.
Taib said Adenan’s first task when he reports for work on March 1 is to inform the state assembly speaker Datuk Seri Mohammad Asfia Awang Nassar that the Balingian seat is vacant.
However, he said who Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and the state BN pick as candidate for the seat would be left to Adenan to decide.
“That's also among his first duties. To consult all the other BN partners (about it). I have no one in mind.”
Taib, who became chief minister in 1981 when he succeeded his uncle Tun Abdul Rahman Ya'akub, said he felt privileged to have served for so long “in this modern world”.
“Any leader who can complete more than one term now is a bonus.
“I could do it longer because of the stable conditions in Malaysia.”
Taib also said he was not sad at stepping down because he has left the state “in good and experienced hands”.
“I'm leaving the government in good hands.
“The only thing I am sad, I suppose, is that I will miss the pressure of work. I'm so used to it.”
Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing described the transition of power as “very smooth” and hinted that Adenan could “in the next few months” reshuffle the cabinet “to prepare the team that would face the 2016 state election”.
The mandate of the government ends on June 20, 2016. - February 12, 2014.
