KUCHING, Jan 29: The late Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng was a great man, full of humanity, compassion, empathy, and care for Sarawak and its people, said Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Stakan branch chairman Dato Sim Kiang Chiok.
Remembering the former governor of Sarawak, Sim recalled that Salahuddin would attend all official functions showing his caring leadership and love for all Sarawakians irrespective of race or religion.
“I will never forget that he attended our many functions to celebrate Chinese New Year and Christmas. He never missed any of our annual Kuching Intercultural Mooncake Festival until 2018.
“His support of our Kuching Intercultural Mooncake Festival has helped the festival to grow from strength to strength, and he loved the opportunity the festival gave to Sarawakians to showcase how we live in harmony in our diverse community.
“All races of all religions came together to celebrate our diversity through the festival, and Tun’s annual visits encouraged us to continue our moderate, peaceful, and harmonious lifestyle that is an envy of many countries,” he said in a statement today.
Sim said Salahuddin was also his family’s ‘Ah Tio’ when he married the late ‘Ah Yi’ Toh Puan Sri Datuk Patinggi Norkiah Bagong, who passed away April last year.
He also said their passings are a huge loss to his family and all Sarawakians.
“We as his family will miss him dearly. We will keep him in our fond memories. Rest in peace, my dear ‘Ah Tio’, you have set your mark in Sarawak for us all to emulate,” he added.
Salahuddin, 100, passed away at Normah Medical Center at 11.42pm last night (Jan 28), leaving behind 13 children, including two deceased, 25 grandchildren, and 26 great-grandchildren. — DayakDaily
