BALINGIAN: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud yesterday gave a strong indication that he may retire from politics after leading Barisan Nasional (BN) in the coming state election due to age factor.
MOVING TOGETHER: Taib (right) flanked by Abu Seman greets schoolchildren upon his arrival at Kuala Balingian with his wife Raghad (behind Taib) and others yesterday.
Taib made the remarks in his speech as guest-of-honour at the ‘Berambeh Jegem’ programme with the chief minister held at Kampung Kuala Balingian community hall here yesterday.
Taib was responding to popular calls from local grassroots leaders from Kampung Jebungan, Kampung Sesok/Sau and Kampung Petanak in Mukah as well as from Kampung Kuala Balingian which hosted the programme on Saturday and yesterday.
“I think it will be timely for me to call it a day and retire from politics after leading BN in the forthcoming election in Sarawak, mainly because of age factor and to spend more time with my family,” said Taib, 74, who had just tied the knot with Puan Sri Raghad Waleed Alkurdi Taib last January.
Responding to the overwhelming calls for him to defend his Balingian seat, Taib confirmed that he will only make a decision on his seat after finalising the list of all BN candidates in other constituencies, which has been his normal practice since becoming chief minister and head of Sarawak BN on March 26, 1981.
“I will make a decision on which seat I will contest after completing the final list of other winnable BN candidates in all constituencies, which is my normal practice since leading Sarawak BN,” said Taib firmly.
The term of the current state legislative assembly expires sometime in July this year.
Taib won the Sebandi (now Asajaya) by-election in 1981 and was appointed land and mines minister before succeeding his uncle, Tun Abdul Rahman Yakub, as chief minister of Sarawak. He held the Sebandi seat until 1987, when he was elected as state assemblyman for Asajaya constituency. In 2001, Taib contested and won Balingian seat which he successfully defended in 2006. His victory brought tremendous development and progress to the people of Balingian and the central region of Sarawak, particularly with the introduction of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) initiatives, mainly to develop the central region encompassing Tanjung Manis-Mukah-Samalaju (Bintulu) regions.
In his welcoming speech, organising chairman Penghulu Johari Mahali pledged the community’s full support for Taib as their leader in Balingian in order to enjoy greater development and progress.
Meanwhile in his speech, Mukah member of parliament Dato Sri Dr Muhammed Leo Toyad called on Taib to defend his Balingian seat in the coming election and continue to become chief minister for many more years to come.
The function was also attended by Jemoreng assemblyman Abu Seman Jahwie, Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) chairperson Datuk Raziah Mahmud, Mukah Resident Saudi Narani, district officer Mohamad Nawawi and other heads of government departments.