By Shikin Louis and Karen Bong
KUCHING, May 10: Senate president Datuk Mutang Tagal has passed away today at the age of 70, shortly after being hospitalised at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur since May 6.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Vice President Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has confirmed the news when contacted by DayakDaily today.
In an official statement today, the Parliament of Malaysia announced the passing of Mutang at 11.46am at the IJN in Kuala Lumpur.
Details regarding the funeral and the ceremony for paying last respects will be provided at a later time.
The family of Mutang wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of condolences and prayers received from all segments of society. They also appreciate the understanding and space given during this time of bereavement.
Mutang, the first Dayak of Lun Bawang ethnicity to hold the office of Senate president, was only sworn in on Feb 19 this year.
He succeeded Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who stepped down from the post to assume the role of the 8th Sarawak Governor in January.
It was reported that Mutang fell seriously ill during a working trip to Azerbaijan and had to be admitted to a hospital there.
He had to cut his trip short and returned to Malaysia at 1am on Monday (May 6), where he was admitted to IJN for further treatment.
Born on Oct 5, 1954, in Lawas, Mutang was married to Datin Ho May Leng and blessed with three children.
He held a Bachelor of Law from the University of Malaya and a Master of Business Administration from Curtin University.
Mutang began his political career as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Bukit Mas (now renamed as Lawas) for two terms from 1982 to 1990. Throughout this period, he served as a member of the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Supreme Council.
After his parliamentary tenure, he continued practising law and managing his business.
On January 12, 2017, Mutang was appointed the Honorary Consul of Romania in Sarawak. He was also bestowed with the Pingat Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN), which carries the title ‘Datuk’ by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in the same year.
Apart from his political and diplomatic roles, Mutang held various notable positions, including president of the Orang Ulu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OUCCI), vice-president of the Sarawak Business Federation (SBF), Supreme Council Member of the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), patron of the Lawas Shooting and Archery Association (LSAA), advisor to the Northern Sarawak Journalists Association (NSJA), legal advisor to the Persatuan Lun Bawang Sarawak, and memberships in the Sarawak Advocates Association, Sabah Advocates Association, and the Bar Council Malaysia. — DayakDaily
