By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Feb 21: Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (FICORD) Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Ukom described the late Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud as his mentor and ‘sifu’ (teacher), as well as an icon to Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB).
Dr Rundi said he learned a lot from Taib who had done so much for Sarawak and organised the State into what she is today.
“So we are indebted to the service of the late Tun. So it is a great sorrow for me and Sarawak especially for our party, Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), as a whole.
“But we have to accept that God has taken him back so on behalf of the people of Sarawak, my deputies Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail and Datuk Martin Ben and the State constituency of Kemena, we sent our deepest condolences on his demise,” the PBB senior vice-president told reporters after presenting FICORD Excellent Service awards to his ministry’s staff at a hotel here today.
Dr Rundi said Taib was a man of great vision and discipline, and the real pillar of what PBB is today.
“It is manifested in our achievement in every election that we had. We never lost except only once in a single seat in the Puncak Borneo constituency.
“Of course, there are ups and downs and normal for politicians or political parties. But Tun remained steadfast to ensure we were protecting the people of Sarawak.”
Dr Rundi opined that despite Sarawak still being in negotiations with the federal government over the return of the State’s right, Sarawak today is more capable than before of developing in the way it wants.
“We are self-reliant in terms of funding and so on. Nonetheless, there are projects under the purview of the federal government especially roads and roads that cost billions of ringgit.”
Dr Rundi urged Sarawakians to fully support the current Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Johari Tun Openg.
“He is doing a very good job development and socio-economic terms for Sarawak and in Malaysia,” he said. — DayakDaily
