MARUDI: The people of Baram accept Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s decision to retire with heavy hearts and hope his successor would continue his policy of prioritising rural development.
Baram Member of Parliament Anyi Ngau said Taib’s retirement will be a huge loss as both Telang Usan and Marudi state constituencies have benefited from his leadership and development plans.
“We hope his successor will continue this momentum for Baram and wish him good health and best wishes,” he said after the swearing-in of councillors for Marudi District Council (MDC) yesterday.
He said Baram is committed to giving its full support to the new chief minister.
Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Water Supply) Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran paid tribute to Taib’s sterling leadership and enormous contributions to development and progress in the state.
“He has contributed so much to Marudi and will be missed, but we are confident that whoever is the next chief minister, his successor will continue his emphasis of rural development benefiting the people here,” said Entri.
The Marudi assemblyman cited developments such as roads, rural water and electrification projects as well as economic activities under Taib’s politics of development as having transformed the landscape, economic activities and lifestyle of the constituency.
Meanwhile, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau said Taib’s leadership has brought about positive changes in Sarawak despite the views of some cynics.
“Telang Usan has benefited from his strategic development plans,” he said.
Richard Wil Uban, a political secretary to the Chief Minister, added that Taib’s 33 years of service have been marked by unrivalled success through the politics of development, multi-racial cooperation, and defending Sarawak’s autonomy under the 18-point agreement.