Sarawak gets new leader, new cabinet to be named after mourning period
Abang Johari signs the appointment letter at the Astana in the presence of two officials.
KUCHING: Datuk Amar Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Abang Openg was sworn in as Sarawak’s sixth chief minister before the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at the Astana here yesterday.
Abang Johari’s appointment was made following the death of Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem on Wednesday.
Always referred to as Abang Johari and fondly addressed as Abang Jo, the new chief minister is the youngest son of the first Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Abang Openg Abang Sapiee and Toh Puan Masniah Abdulrahman.
He, however, declined to make any official statement with regard to his appointment when met by members of the media at the Astana yesterday.
“Thank you very much for covering this event but since we are still mourning the loss of the late CM, I will only issue my statement after the mourning period. I just want to thank the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and my colleagues in Barisan Nasional (BN) for their confidence in me to lead the state government,” Abang Johari, 66, briefly said before entering his official car.
On whether he would name his new cabinet line-up, he said as the state was still in mourning, there would be no reshuffle for the time being.
“We are mourning. For the time being, those who are there will continue,” he replied.
Abang Johari, an alumnus of SMK St Joseph Kuching, continued his tertiary education in the UK where he graduated with Masters in Business Management from Henley College of Brunnel University.
He held three portfolios in the state cabinet prior to his appointment as chief minister – Deputy Chief Minister, Minister of Housing and Urbanisation, and Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
The chief minister’s post should see Abang Johari automatically taking over the presidency of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) – the state BN backbone party. Nevertheless, this must first be endorsed by the PBB supreme council.
Abang Johari is also the president of Sarawak United National Youth Organisation (Saberkas) – a platform where he is regarded as being most active among all the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and associations.
Coming from a prominent family as far as state history is concerned, Abang Johari has been involved in politics since 1977.
He stood in Satok during the 1981 election and won. A year later, he was appointed chief political secretary to Taib, who was the chief minister then. In 1984, he was appointed Assistant Minister of Regional and Community Development.
He was made full minister in 1987, leading the Industrial Development Ministry. From there, he continued to serve the people of Sarawak as a state cabinet minister under various portfolios.
In the May 7 state election, he stood again under BN and defended Satok with a majority of 2,798 votes, against PKR’s Mohamad Jolhi.
It appears that the first challenge awaiting Abang Johari would be to lead the BN in the imminent Tanjung Datu by-election, which must be called within 60 days following Adenan’s death.