GABUNGAN Parti Sarawak’s State Legislative Assembly (DUN) chief whip Datuk Ibrahim Baki described the late former head of state Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud as a master political tactician.
Reflecting on his experience as the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) youth branch leader back in 1985, Ibrahim-Satok) said he has had the privilege to witness the late Taib’s political progress.
“He was a party loyalist who stood firm to protect PBB which he helped form. He would never waver even an inch and would stand firm to protect PBB.
“He was willing to make sacrifices for PBB. His biggest test was the Ming Court crisis of 1987 where a group of dissenters and betrayers within PBB and the coalition wanted to topple him.
“He stuck to his gun. Together with other loyalists in PBB among others, they defended and protected PBB, the coalition and the government.
“The betrayers were crushed in the 1987 state election. From then on, he managed to maintain Sarawak’s political stability throughout his tenure as chief minister,” he said when debating in support of the motion of appreciation to the former TYT today.
Noting how the late Taib was a true blue Sarawakian, Ibrahim said he and PBB seniors propagated that Sarawak should be led, administered, and managed by only Sarawakians.
He said Taib also successfully navigated and convinved Barisan Nasional components from West Malaysia to not set up branches in Sarawak as certain sections of United Malay National Organisation (Umno) wished to set foot in Sarawak.
He also said Umno’s entry into Sarawak had it materialised would have changed the state’s political landscape.
“Today, Sarawak is in good hands of GPS. The rakyat gave a clear signal with the huge mandate in 2021 state election as they wanted Sarawak to be administered and managed by Anak Sarawak without any interference from political parties outside of Sarawak.
“GPS as ‘Sarawak First’ government now commands a supermajority in the august House, operating in a more pragmatic political climate compared to the rest of the nation. We now enjoy political stability and excellent economic progress,” he said.
Ibrahim pointed out that Sarawakians are living in harmony irrespective of race, religion, and other culture.
“We are now able to focus on development initiatives and policy thanks to the late Taib,” he added.
