KUALA LUMPUR: Uniting all races and minority ethnicities in Sarawak is one of former governor Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s unmatched legacies that need to be preserved.
Former chairman of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Datuk Seri Azman Ujang said Taib’s fair administrative style, especially when he was the state’s chief minister, which saw every Sarawakian receiving equal treatment, was also something to be proud of.
“In Sarawak and Sabah, they don’t play up religious and racial issues. This is also one of Tun Taib’s legacies. He never played up religious and racial political issues, and this resulted in the people of Sarawak receiving fair and equal treatment, which he often emphasised.
“One must also remember, Sarawak has the largest number of ethnicities, and yet they can unite,” he said when featured on the ‘Belasungkawa — Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud’ segment on Bernama Radio, today.
Azman also described Taib, who was dubbed the Father of Modern Sarawak, as an unparalleled leader.
“As the Father of Modern Sarawak, who was also the state’s chief minister for 33 years since 1981, Taib had developed and built Sarawak which, in terms of political stability, can serve as an example for the current generation,” he said.
A lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Dick Lembang Dugun, who was also featured in the segment, said Taib had laid the best foundation for Sarawak’s development.
“Much has been contributed by Taib in the Land of the Hornbills, especially in the aspect of development that cannot be denied by anyone.
“Many small areas have been transformed, such as in Kota Samarahan, where I personally witnessed the rapid development through the establishment of an educational hub with the presence of UNIMAS, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), teacher training hubs, and so on.
“Abdul Taib’s forward-looking efforts are to ensure that the people of Sarawak continue to enjoy development and be able to compete with other communities in Malaysia,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sarawak United National Youth Organisation (Saberkas) executive council member and vice-president of the Malaysian Youth Council, Tarmizi Karnain, described Taib, who was also the former president of Saberkas, as a friendly and approachable person, even with the youth.
He said throughout Taib’s administration, various efforts and initiatives have been implemented to ensure that the youth in Sarawak can enjoy life in a modern and advanced environment.
Taib breathed his last at the age of 87 at 4.40 am at a private hospital here yesterday. — BERNAMA
