By Shikin Louis
KOTA SAMARAHAN, May 11: The late Datuk Mutang Tagal has contributed substantially to Sarawak and Malaysia despite not serving a full term as Senate president, says Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He explained that Mutang has served as a Member of Parliament (MP) twice, many years ago and that he was one of the leaders of Orang Ulu and the Lun Bawang communities in particular.
“As far as the Senate is concerned, he has been there only for three months. He might not have been able to contribute that much but he has contributed in many other ways whether as an MP, whether as a lawyer because he was also a practising lawyer, and also in other capacities to the community.
“His demise will definitely be felt by all of us,” he told reporters when met after the opening ceremony of Samarahan Food and Cultural Festival (SFCF) 2024 held at Aiman Mall here last night (May 10).
Abdul Karim who is also Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) and Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED) further said that the news of Mutang’s death yesterday (May 10) came as a shock to the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leaders as they had no prior knowledge of Mutang having health complications.
“We did not know that he was having complications because he was just appointed as the president of the Senate three months ago – on Feb 19. It (his death) was all very sudden.”
Earlier yesterday, Abdul Karim confirmed with DayakDaily that Mutang had passed away at 11.46am, shortly after being hospitalised at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur since May 6. — DayakDaily
