Abang Johari Tun Openg
LIMBANG: He was a sickly boy until Zohari was added to his name.
Ever since then, he has been healthy and enjoying a normal life, said Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He was relating how he was named Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Abang Openg.
“I was born in Limbang, delivered by a village midwife called Mariam, and my actual name was Abdul Rahman then,” he said in his address at the launch of Rangau Valley Development project here yesterday.
He was on his first visit to Limbang as chief minister.
“I was sickly; thus Zohari was added to my name in Limbang — I have been well until this day as chief minister,” he recalled.
His father was the first Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, district officer of the then-Limbang District, which covered the present Limbang and Lawas districts.
Abang Johari also related that six days after being appointed the sixth chief minister, he summoned Assistant Minister for Welfare and Community Wellbeing Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, who is also Bukit Kota assemblyman, to his office.
“I didn’t realise that he (Dr Abdul Rahman) was trembling and thinking that he might be fired. I told him to prepare for my first official visit to my birthplace — I want the people of Sarawak to know that I am an ‘Anak Limbang’ (Son of Limbang),” he said in jest.
Abang Johari said he had a special attachment to his birthplace because that was where he opened his eyes to the world.