KUCHING, Feb 21: Former Sarawak Governor, the late Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud was the prime mover in bolstering the oil and gas industry in Malaysia.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg emphasised that the late Taib played a pivotal role in the establishment of Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) during his tenure as Minister of Primary Industries from 1977 to 1978.
“One of the ministries which Tun Taib held was the Ministry of Primary Industries under the administration of the late Tun Abdul Razak. In that capacity, he played a crucial role in the establishment of PETRONAS.
“He further solidified the oil industry, which was previously dominated by external entities, enabling local Malaysians to assume positions and contribute to the oil and gas sector,” he said in a news report by TVS today.
Abang Johari highlighted this when met by reporters after witnessing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing between Sarawak Petchem and PETRONAS Chemical Group (PCG) Berhad for an ammonia project at a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur today.
He expressed his profound sorrow at Taib’s passing as the latter made significant contributions to both the nation and Sarawak.
“Since the formation of Malaysia in 1963, he served as a minister in Sarawak’s inaugural government within Malaysia, subsequently serving in the federal government,” Abang Johari added.
Taib, who passed away at the age of 87 at the Cardiac Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur Hospital (CVSKL) today, was born on May 21, 1936.
Taib was the chief architect behind Sarawak’s transformation from a humble backwater region in the 1960s into the dynamic and progressive entity it is today within Malaysia. — DayakDaily
