BY GABRIEL LIHAN & FASIHA KHUSHIRI
KUCHING: To people out there Pehin Sri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud would have come across as a hard-nosed politician who brooked no nonsense in his drive to develop Sarawak.
But following his funeral here today one of his sons, Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir, spent a few moments reflecting on the softer side to his father which he and his siblings relished growing up.
He recalled seeing his father coming home after a hard day’s work, his fatigue showing on his face.
“He would come home late, he worked very very hard, this is something we all remember, when he came back, his face looked so tired. Yet, he had time to take us to the movies,” he said.
Bekir recalled fondly about how Taib, despite being tired, would take all of them to watch sword fighting Chinese movies.
“That was how he showed his love for us, he was very willing to spend time with us even though he would end up snoring in the cinema, but that was my father,” he told reporters after laying his father to rest at the family cemetery in Demak Jaya today (Feb 22).
Taib, who served as chief minister for a record 33 years and thereafter almost ten years as head of state, died on Wednesday. He was 87.
Bekir said Taib was always giving his absolute best at work and at the same time a 100 per cent to his family.
“We learned how to fish, how to grow fruits and vegetables, (he) was very educational towards us.
“He will try to be just everywhere even when he was a federal minister, he was travelling a lot and he would take at least one of us to go travelling with him with his own pocket money (for) the accommodation and flights,” he said.
Bekir said Taib would take time out to bring them travelling, ensuring that his children have great exposure and experience.
“He took us travelling, so when he was working, we got to see a lot of cities all over the world, he took us one by one, unless when my mother came along, then maybe two or four of us would follow.
“Growing up with him was a great experience,” he added.
A disciplinarian by nature, Taib also drummed into the children the ethos of working hard.
“He would always tell us to work hard, saying there’s no replacement to working hard,” he said.
And if they should ever fail Taib told them what was more important was to know how to get up on their feet again.
Words of wisdom Bekir and his siblings, including brother Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman who was next to him, will never forget.
