KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) is saddened over the passing of Senate president Datuk Mutang Tagal.
SUPP president Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said Mutang’s death is a loss to Sarawak and also Malaysia.
“Mutang passed away quite suddenly after medical evacuation from Baku, Azerbaijan to National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur.
“He is not just the fourth Sarawakian appointed as president of the Dewan Negara of Malaysia but the first Dayak appointed to the post, which is the third highest in Malaysia protocol after Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister,” Dr Sim said in a Facebook post.
Dr Sim added that before Mutang left for Baku, Azerbaijan, and due to his work visit to Switzerland, a meeting was arranged to meet at the Dewan Negara in the afternoon, May 9.
“Premier and I were fortunate to be able to visit Mutang at the heart institute in Kuala Lumpur on May 8 and in the evening,” he said.
Meanwhile, SUPP secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting said he has lost a very close friend.
“I have known him for 40 years. Both of us have been practising law in Miri after I came back in 1984, so we know each other very well.
“It is just very unfortunate, shocking and sad for me,” he said when met at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex here.
Ting recalled a happy moment he shared with Mutang, which was on Sept 7, 2017 where the duo received the title of Datuk from the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“We were together in Kuala Lumpur at that time, that was a happy time together with him but all these are now memories.”
He also recalled that he managed to take a photo with Mutang, which was a day before he was sworn in as the Senate president.
“On the day when we heard he was appointed, I was with him in Miri together. So I told him, ‘Before you are sworn in, can I get a photo first, otherwise it will be difficult to look for you’,” he said with a sad tone.
Ting said he took the photo on the day before Mutang flew to Kuala Lumpur at the Miri Airport for his swearing-in ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.
“That was my last photo with him before he was appointed as the Senate president.”
