Abdul Taib Mahmud: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 46: | Line 46: | ||
Taib undertook his early schooling at the St. Joseph's Primary school in [[Miri]] and St. Joseph's Secondary school in [[Kuching]]. Bue to his excellant performance in Senior Cambridge Examination, he was awarded the Shell scholarship to further his studies in University of Adelaide in 1958 before receiving a [[Bachelor of Laws]] from the [[University of Adelaide]] in [[South Australia]] in 1960. |
Taib undertook his early schooling at the St. Joseph's Primary school in [[Miri]] and St. Joseph's Secondary school in [[Kuching]]. Bue to his excellant performance in Senior Cambridge Examination, he was awarded the Shell scholarship to further his studies in University of Adelaide in 1958 before receiving a [[Bachelor of Laws]] from the [[University of Adelaide]] in [[South Australia]] in 1960. |
||
Returning to Sarawak, he worked in the Crown Council from 1962 to 1963. Then, he joined the State Legislative Council of Sarawak on 22 July 1963, where he was appointed as state minister for Communication and Works from 1963 to 1966 and as Minister of Development and Forestry in 1967.He became the member of [[Dewan Rakyat|Malaysian parliament]] for Kota Samarahan in 1970, and was appointed to numerous portfolios including Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (1968 - 1970) and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (1970- 1972), before succeeding his uncle, [[Abdul Rahman Ya'kub|Abdul Rahman bin Ya'kub]], as the Chief Minister of Sarawak in 1981 after winning the by-election for |
Returning to Sarawak, he worked in the Crown Council from 1962 to 1963. Then, he joined the State Legislative Council of Sarawak on 22 July 1963, where he was appointed as state minister for Communication and Works from 1963 to 1966 and as Minister of Development and Forestry in 1967.He became the member of [[Dewan Rakyat|Malaysian parliament]] for Kota Samarahan in 1970, and was appointed to numerous portfolios including Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (1968 - 1970) and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (1970- 1972), before succeeding his uncle, [[Abdul Rahman Ya'kub|Abdul Rahman bin Ya'kub]], as the Chief Minister of Sarawak in 1981 after winning the by-election for Sebandi constituency.<ref name=PBB >[http://www.bumiputerasarawak.org.my/president/president_biodata.htm "Biodata of the President of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB)"], official [[Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu|PBB]] website</ref> He defended the Sebandi seat until 1987 before elected as state assemblyman in Asajaya constituency. In 2001 state election, he decided to contest in Balingian. |
||
==The progress and development of Sarawak under his leadership== |
|||
Since 1981, the GDP(Gross Domestic Product)has grown from RM 6.5 billion to RM 19.7 billion in 1995 and increased further to an estimated of RM 29.9 billion in 1999. In 1995, 31.9% of the population was living in poverty and 10% in hard-core poverty. By 1997, the incidence of poverty was down to 7.5% and hard-core poverty went down to 0.7%. In 1980, only 31.8% of people of Sarawak had water supply, but in 1995, the figure has reached 85% of the population. He also brings political stability to Sarawak by leading Sarawak BN to large majority in each state election.<ref name=PBB/> He also hindered the entry of [[UMNO]] into Sarawak. The entry of UMNO into [[Sabah]] since 1991 has caused much dissent among the local politicians and people as they claimed that their rights and interests are eroded.<ref>''[http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=50792 Umno's entry to Sabah biggest mistake: Mansur]''. URL accessed on November 17, 2009</ref> |
|||
==2030 vision for Sarawak== |
==2030 vision for Sarawak== |
||
Revision as of 08:08, 17 November 2009
Abdul Taib Mahmud | |
|---|---|
 Abdul Taib Mahmud in 2005 | |
| Chief Minister of Sarawak | |
| Assumed office 26 March 1981 | |
| Governor | Tuan Yang Terutama Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng |
| Deputy | George Chan Hong Nam Alfred Jabu Numpang |
| Preceded by | Abdul Rahman Ya'kub |
| Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Kota Samarahan | |
| In office 1970–2008 | |
| Member of the Sarawak state Assembly for Balingian | |
| Assumed office 2001 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 May 1936 (age 73) Miri, Kingdom of Sarawak |
| Political party | Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) part of Barisan Nasional |
| Spouse | Laila Taib (Deceased) |
| Children | Jamilah Hamidah Taib Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib Hanifah Hajar Taib |
| Occupation |  State assemblyman |
| Website | http://www.cm.sarawak.gov.my/ |
Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud (born 21 May 1936 in Miri, Malaysia) is the fourth and current Chief Minister of Sarawak. He is also the state Planning and Resource Management Minister. Taib is President of the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), which is part of the Barisan Nasional coalition. He is of ethnic Melanau descent.
Taib is informally known as Pak Uban, which translates into "white-haired uncle". Among Chinese speaking communities he is known as Bai Mao (白毛) which means "white hair". Another informal name for him, in reference to the British Brooke family that ruled Sarawak as White Rajahs in the 19th and early 20th century, is "last white rajah" or "white-haired rajah".[1] Holding the post of the Chief Minister of Sarawak since 1981, he is the longest serving Chief Minister in Malaysia.
Personal life and education
Taib undertook his early schooling at the St. Joseph's Primary school in Miri and St. Joseph's Secondary school in Kuching. Bue to his excellant performance in Senior Cambridge Examination, he was awarded the Shell scholarship to further his studies in University of Adelaide in 1958 before receiving a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Adelaide in South Australia in 1960.
Returning to Sarawak, he worked in the Crown Council from 1962 to 1963. Then, he joined the State Legislative Council of Sarawak on 22 July 1963, where he was appointed as state minister for Communication and Works from 1963 to 1966 and as Minister of Development and Forestry in 1967.He became the member of Malaysian parliament for Kota Samarahan in 1970, and was appointed to numerous portfolios including Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (1968 - 1970) and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (1970- 1972), before succeeding his uncle, Abdul Rahman bin Ya'kub, as the Chief Minister of Sarawak in 1981 after winning the by-election for Sebandi constituency.[2] He defended the Sebandi seat until 1987 before elected as state assemblyman in Asajaya constituency. In 2001 state election, he decided to contest in Balingian.
The progress and development of Sarawak under his leadership
Since 1981, the GDP(Gross Domestic Product)has grown from RM 6.5 billion to RM 19.7 billion in 1995 and increased further to an estimated of RM 29.9 billion in 1999. In 1995, 31.9% of the population was living in poverty and 10% in hard-core poverty. By 1997, the incidence of poverty was down to 7.5% and hard-core poverty went down to 0.7%. In 1980, only 31.8% of people of Sarawak had water supply, but in 1995, the figure has reached 85% of the population. He also brings political stability to Sarawak by leading Sarawak BN to large majority in each state election.[2] He also hindered the entry of UMNO into Sarawak. The entry of UMNO into Sabah since 1991 has caused much dissent among the local politicians and people as they claimed that their rights and interests are eroded.[3]
2030 vision for Sarawak
During his celebration of 28th anniversary as Sarawak chief minister on 26th March 2009 at Dewan Suarah Bintulu, Taib envisions Sarawak as the richest state in Malaysia by the year 2030 while delivering his speech. In the future, there will be enough high-skilled workers helping to develop the state for the betterment of economic administration. The Sarawak will become the land of opportunities for the people who seek greener pastures. The second wave of economic development will be started as soon as possible.
Some of the steps proposed include the settings up of more higher learning institutions in order to diversify the future economy of Sarawak. This is to ensure that the younger generation will be able to exploit the depleting natural resources more efficiently. He also mentioned the need of synergy, cooperation and teamwork spirit between leaders and understandings of Sarawak people in order to facilitate the planning and implementation outlined by the state government for the benefits of the people.
Alleged Corruption
Accusations of deep corruption and nepotism have surrounded Taib on several occasions and the dominance of Sarawak's political elite including Taib's family in the logging industry is well documented.[4] In 2007, it was reported that nine Japanese shipping companies, which transported timber from Sarawak, had allegedly failed to report some 1.1 billion yen in income over a period of up to seven years. The report claimed the money was paid as kickbacks to Sarawak officials via a Hong Kong agent linked to Taib's family.[5]
The results of the logging industry under Taib is that less than 10% of Sarawak's primary forests remain, logging many of the ancestral lands of many of Sarawak's indigenous communities, despite their continued petitions and road blockades, where forceful dismantling has led to several deaths and regular violent coercion by the Malaysian army, police and logging industry enforcers.[6][7]
Taib's son, Yang Bhg. Dato Sri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib, was appointed as Group Executive Director of Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad (CMSB) in January 1995. He is currently the Deputy Group Chairman of CMSB. [8] His siblings, YB Dato Sri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib, Jamilah Hamidah Taib and Hanifah Hajar Taib are substantial shareholders in the company.[9]
In the 2008 general election, Taib's son Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib won the Kota Samarahan seat in the Malaysian parliament previously held by his father and became Deputy Tourism Minister in the new cabinet.[10] Prior to this, he did not have any political experience.
Taib's sister Roziah is one of the most powerful businesswomen in Sarawak with extensive holdings in property and timber business.[citation needed]
Taib's brother-in-law, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Abdul Aziz Bin Dato Haji Husain, was appointed state secretary by Mahmud in 2000 and when he retired in 2006, he was appointed as the group managing director of Sarawak Energy Berhad since 2007.[11] He also holds directorships for Eksons Corporation Berhad, Mlabs Systems Berhad, Syarikat SESCO Berhad and other companies.[12]
Sarawak Cabinet reshuffle
Taib announced his cabinet reshuffle on 8 November 2009 which saw changed portfolios for some ministries while six new faces were appointed as assistant ministers. The new cabinet line-up will take effect on 1 December 2009 and the new appointees will be sworn in at a later date.[13]
Taib, who retained the Finance, and Planning and Resource Management Minister portfolios, said the reorganisation was meant to prepare Sarawak for new development policies and approaches that could take place some time in the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) or after the next state election. He also said that with the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) coming up, he would reform Syarikat Sesco Berhad (SESCO) in the next one or two years.
Family
On 29 April 2009, Taib's late wife Laila died of cancer. She was buried at the Demak Jaya cemetery in Kuching the following day.[14]
On 3 June 2009, Taib's four-year-old granddaughter, Celestia Lulua Mahmud Abu Bekir, died two days after slipping into the swimming pool at her home at Duta Nusantara Condominium in Kuala Lumpur. Celestia was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Kuala Lumpur Hospital when she lost consciousness after the accident. The girl was buried at the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery.[15]
References
- ^ "The Last Rajah's Battlefield", The Nut Graph, 2009-04-03
- ^ a b "Biodata of the President of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB)", official PBB website
- ^ Umno's entry to Sabah biggest mistake: Mansur. URL accessed on November 17, 2009
- ^ Malaysia Today: MT-Loony Malaysia: How much is Taib Mahmud worth?
- ^ "Wood carriers allegedly hid 1.1 billion yen income". The Japan Times. 2007-03-29.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ The Borneo Project : Sarawak Penan Association: We Blockade to Stop Encroachments on Ancestral Lands
- ^ Bruno Manser Fonds | News
- ^ Cahya Mata Sarawak: Investor Relations, page 36 in 2008 Annual Report. URL accessed on November 14, 2009
- ^ Cahya Mata Sarawak: Investor Relations, page 138 in 2008 Annual Report. URL accessed on November 14, 2009
- ^ "New ministers and deputy ministers", The Star, 2008-03-19
- ^ Board of Directors for Sarawak Energy Berhad. URL accessed on November 14, 2009
- ^ Board of Directors for Eksons Corporation Berhad. URL accessed on November 14, 2009
- ^ Six new faces; three dropped, The Borneo Post
- ^ Chief Minister's Wife, Laila Taib Dies, Bernama
- ^ Sarawak CM's Granddaughter Dies, Bernama