Treaty with Bong Kee Chok most profound feat by Tun, says Mawan

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KUCHING: The demise of former head of state and chief minister Tun Abdul Rahman Yakub is indeed a great loss not only to Sarawak, but also the nation as a whole.

Social Development Minister Tan Sri William Mawan has hailed the man as ‘the greatest leader of his time’.

“I really salute him for of his numerous achievements – the most outstanding of which, of course, was when he signed the peace treaty with Bong Kee Chok.

“It was the most remarkable thing that he did for the people of Sarawak; which I think not anybody could do,” he said.

The agreement, inked on Oct 20, 1973, saw Bong – director and political commissar of North Kalimantan Communist Force (Paraku) – proposing that his units would lay down their arms and rejoin society, which eventually marked the end of communist insurgency in the state.

Mawan said Rahman Yakub’s demise would be felt not only his own family members but also by the common folk. “With this opportunity, I want to convey my deepest condolences to the family of the late Tun Rahman. My hope is that they would remain calm during this tough time,” he said.