BY NOOR SYAHHIRA HADY, JAMES WONG & NURA V LORNA
KUCHING: The late former Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud was honoured with a volley of 87 cannon shots before his hearse made its way to Masjid Demak.
The shots were fired from 12 cannon barrels at Fort Margherita by the 8th Regiment of Royal Artillery.
Earlier, Taib’s body was brought to the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) complex as early as 7.50 am today accompanied by his sons Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib and Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib for the state funeral service.
After the late Taib received the last respects from fellow dignitaries and Sarawakians, his casket was carried by the pallbearers into the hearse at 11.40 am to be brought to Masjid Demak for funeral prayers before he was laid to rest at the burial at family cemetery in Demak Jaya after Zohor prayers.
Head of State Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi arrived at the DUN complex at about 11.04 am to pay their last respects.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and his wife Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang; Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian; Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Utilities and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi; Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK) Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah; Education, Innovation, and Talent Development (MEITD) Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn; and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin were among those who paid their last respects.
Also present to pay their last respects were former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan; State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki; Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63, and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali; Sarikei MP Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii; MTCP Deputy Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting; Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Michael Tiang; and MEITD Deputy Minister Datuk Annuar Rapaee.
The late Tun Taib, 87, passed away at a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
