BECOMING a member of parliament at the age of 26 came as a surprise for him though at university, he had dreamed of entering politics.But he didn’t expect that dream to come to fruition so quickly.
But that was the reality that Mutang Tagal (now Datuk) had to accept on April 26, 1982.
“I had no money at that time. Therefore, I had to work with Datuk Noor Tahir who was Lawas assemblyman and Datuk James Wong Kim Min who was Limbang assemblyman.
“Noor Tahir was the Minister of Forestry, while James Wong was President of the Sarawak National Party (SNAP),” he said, pointing out that Limbang and Lawas were in his Bukit Mas parliamentary area.
He thus went along with the two state assemblymen on regular visits to the two state constituencies. But pleaded with them for financial assistance.
“Only in that way could I serve the people, because Limbang and Lawas were my biggest responsibilities,” he said.
In the 1980s, it was very challenging to move from one area to another.
“Communication was a big obstacle. We had to walk if we were in an area that did not have any road access. As for the more inland areas, we had to use boats, like in Sungai Mendamit,” he revealed.
Mutang Tagal was born on October 5, 1954 in Buduk Nur, Ba’kelalan. He received his primary education at the Long Semadoh and Ba’kelalan Primary Schools before continuing his secondary education at Lawas and Limbang Secondary Schools.
He then continued his studies at Kolej Tun Datu Tuanku Haji Bujang, Miri, which housed many talented students at the time, before being selected to read law at Universiti Malaya.
As soon as he graduated, he started practice as a legal officer with Bank Bumiputera before joining the law firm of Messrs. Wan Ullok, Chin and Jugah.
When he was at that firm, he said, his name was proposed to replace the incumbent Bukit Mas Member of Parliament, Datuk Rancha Umong who had expressed his intention to retire.
The names of Mutang and two other individuals were then forwarded to the Chief Minister who was also the President of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) at the time, Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud for a decision.
“My selection as a candidate was informed by Datuk Stephen Wan Ullok and it came as a surprise.
“More surprisingly when I entered the nomination hall on April 26, 1982, there were no other candidates present. This made me win uncontested at such a young age.
“And, during the period that I should have been campaigning, I was admitted or called to the Bar in Sarawak.”
As a young and new member of parliament, he felt a lot of pressure and consequently all but forgot the sweetness of youth.
“I became old in a short time, because I was hanging out with people who were 50 years old and above. But it matured me and I could feel how energetic I was at that time,” he said.
As it turned out Mutang made it through the term in style and, when nominated again in 1986, he managed to garner 9,450 votes to defeat Independent candidate, Mohd Bujang Mohd Yassin by a majority of 5,863 votes.
Mutang said he did his best under difficult conditions in the most remote area of Sarawak. But like his peers he was not free from criticism and slander. And in the next election on October 21, 1990, he was replaced by a new face, Michael Lisa Kaya.
But despite being dropped Mutang stayed the course and supported
PBB and BN parties.
And this loyalty paid dividends when his brother, Dr. Judson Tagal was later nominated as a candidate for the Ba’kelalan state constituency in
1996, when the area was created, as a result of the redelineation of the electoral area.
Dr Judson served for three terms and served as a junior minister before he was killed in a helicopter crash at the foot of Mount Murud, Bario in 2004.
At that time, Mutang said, he had been involved in business and after Dr. Judson’s death, his name surfaced again every time there were state and parliamentary elections. But he never lobbied for that opportunity.
Mutang’s name, however, came back into the public sphere in 2021 when he became the founding President of the Orang Ulu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OUCCI) and then as Deputy President, Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and Deputy President, Business Association.
On Jan 12, 2017, Mutang was also appointed as the Romanian Honorary Consul for Sarawak.
But the most surprising news came two weeks ago for the Master of Business Administration holder from Curtin University who is married to Datin Ho May Leng. He was named as the new President of the Senate.
Mutang who will turn 70 in October, expressed his gratitude to Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and his deputy Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
The story is that he was informed about his nomination by Uggah before receiving a call from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim not long after.
Being the first Dayak to hold the position, he admits it is a huge responsibility.
“Firstly its because I returned to Parliament after 34 years, and secondly, I inherited big shoes to fill,” he said, referring to his predecessor Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar who is now Head of State.
He, however, vowed to do his best.
Mutang has much on his shoulders, knowing the people of Sarawak, the Dayak and in particular his Lun Bawang community are looking up to him.
ends
- Rudi Affendi Khalik is a writer, journalist and producer at a Sarawak TV and media content production company
