By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 10: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) expressed profound sorrow and extended heartfelt condolences over the demise of Senate President Datuk Mutang Tagal, who passed away this morning.
GPS and PBB secretary general Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi lamented Mutang’s passing as a significant loss to Sarawak and the nation at large.
“The late Senator made his own history when he was appointed as the 20th President of the Senate in February this year, becoming the first Dayak from the Lun Bawang ethnic group to hold that position.
“Since his involvement in politics, he has played important roles in helping the party and of course the Lun Bawang community in highlighting their role in jointly developing Sarawak,” said Nanta in a statement.
Personally, he said Mutang was not a stranger to him.
He remembered in the 70s, when Mutang started to become actively involved in politics, his father Tan Sri Datuk Amar Leonard Linggi who was then PBB’s secretary general played the pivotal role in bringing in Mutang to join PBB, following which Mutang’s political career took off and became a Member of Parliament.
Mutang was Member of Parliament (MP) for Bukit Mas (now renamed as Lawas) for two terms from 1982 to 1990.
“He was not just a colleague in politics but also a close friend of me and all family members. Personally, I am much affected by the news of his death.
“I pray that all members of his family and the entire Lun Bawang community will be given strength to face this loss,” said Nanta.
Mutang who was sworn in as Senate President on Feb 19 this year, passed away today at the age of 70, shortly after being hospitalised at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur since May 6. — DayakDaily
