By Wilfred Pilo and Karen Bong
KUCHING, Feb 22: The remains of Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who died early yesterday morning, have been laid to rest at the former Sarawak Governor’s family mausoleum within the compound of Demak Mosque at Demak Jaya, Jalan Bako at 2.20pm.
Taib’s remains were interred beside the grave of his first wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Laila Taib, who passed away on April 29, 2009.
The State funeral ceremony was attended by Brunei Sultan His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Omar A’li Saifudien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien with His Royal Highness Pengiran Muda Abdul Mateen, Sarawak Governor Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, and Taib’s widow Puan Sri Raghad Kurdi Taib.
The funeral prayer for Taib was performed after the fardhu Zohor prayer, led by the Grand Imam of Sarawak Sahibul Fadhilah Dato Mustapha Kamal Ahmad Fauzi at the Demak Mosque.
Taib’s remains arrived at the mosque compound precisely at 11.56am and was ceremonially carried by eight pallbearers from the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), led by the Commanding Officer of the 71st Royal Service Corps Battalion, Old Penrissen Camp, Kuching, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Jeffry Abdullah @ Jeffry Lin Sin.
Earlier, a total of 12 cannons were lined along the road from Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex to Demak Mosque, where 87 shots were fired by five officers and 60 members of LLP from the 8th Royal Artillery Regiment, as a final mark of respect for Taib’s final journey.
Also present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, and State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki. — DayakDaily
