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Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud is one of those rare breeds of politicians who have played a pivotal role in transforming Sarawak from a mere backwater region in the 1960s into a modern, vibrant, and progressive region in Malaysia today.
The Miri-born, Adelaide-trained lawyer has been in Sarawak’s political scene since the formation of Malaysia in 1963, right until today as the Head of State.
For him, serving Sarawak has been a calling of sorts, as he actually had other opportunities after graduating in 1960.
Political journey
Taib’s political journey in transforming Sarawak began when he was appointed Minister of Communications and Works under the Cabinet of the first Chief Minister of Sarawak, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan.
Reflecting on those times, Taib remarked, “Developing Sarawak was a daunting task due to its vast, under-developed and geographically challenging nature. We often had to think outside the box to implement infrastructure development to ensure that we can maximise our resources for the benefit of the general population.”
During that period, Sarawak faced not only the threat of communist insurgencies but also a lack of necessary funding to implement projects to tackle the harsh environments and terrains, particularly in the expansive interior of the State.
“Fortunately, with the dedication of capable individuals who worked tirelessly, we were able to overcome these challenges and successfully execute essential infrastructure projects. This included the construction of roads and bridges connecting major towns like Simanggang, Sibu, Miri, Limbang, and extending all the way up to Lawas,” he fondly recalled.
Following his tenure at the State-level, Taib was called by Prime Minister the late Tunku Abdul Rahman to join the Federal Cabinet. He excelled in various portfolios assigned to him, including Minister of General Planning and Socio-Economic Research, Minister of Primary Industries, Minister of Defence and ultimately, Minister of Federal Territories. Subsequently, on March 26, 1981, he was appointed as the fourth Chief Minister of Sarawak.
Fourth Chief Minister of Sarawak and the ‘Politics of Development’
As both the Chief Minister and Minister of Resource Planning, Taib made significant strides in driving maximum development in Sarawak through his comprehensive ‘Politics of Development’ policy. This policy, rooted in the principles of COME—change, opportunity, mobility, and equality for all Sarawakians, formed the foundation of his approach.
“Politics of Development is a holistic strategy that balances the entire spectrum of socio-economic development involving all segments of society, irrespective of race or religion,” he emphasised.
Taib’s immense contribution to Sarawak was indeed unsurpassable. His achievements span a wide range, and some of his notable contributions include the establishment of the Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) to harness Sarawak’s abundant oil and gas resources; the creation of new administrative divisions such as Mukah, Betong, and Samarahan; the elevation of Kuching and Miri to city status; the setting up of Laila Taib College in Sibu, and the founding of various universities like University Technology Sarawak (UTS) in Sibu, Swinburne University Campus in Kuching, and Curtin University Campus in Miri.
He was also instrumental in ensuring that Sarawak had its first public university, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), in Kota Samarahan. Additionally, he facilitated the setup of numerous training institutes and colleges to equip local Sarawakians with diverse skills, not only to advance the development of Sarawak but also to enhance the standard of living for the people.
Taib also prioritised the social well-being of the people, exemplified by the implementation of civic centres in major towns throughout Sarawak to cater to the community’s growing needs. He believed the successful implementation of development programmes under the ‘Politics of Development’ framework would bring about positive changes, generate ample employment and business opportunities, and necessitate increased mobility among the people.
“Without the civic centres, it would have been extremely challenging to gather the masses for major events due to the lack of suitable venues,” he recalled.
Furthermore, Taib also spearheaded the development of numerous industrial parks, including the Samajaya Industrial Park, Demak Jaya Industrial Park, Samalaju Industrial Park, and Tanjung Manis Industrial Park. These parks have generated abundant job opportunities, particularly benefiting the local population, including those residing in rural areas.
Beyond the advancements in the oil and gas industry, Taib played a pivotal role in transforming primary resource sectors such as timber, oil palm, and forest plantations. These industries have provided substantial employment for Sarawakians throughout the years.
His development programmes were comprehensive, encompassing various domains, including land development, timber and palm oil industries, environmental conservation, education from pre-school to tertiary level, urban and rural development, and revitalising and energising the civil service. These initiatives aimed not only to enhance the quality of services but also to make them more accessible to the people.
Besides, he also created several statutory bodies such as the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA), Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), and Sacofa and enlarged the roles and functions of the established ones like Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) and Sarawak Land Consolidation and Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra).
He successfully transitioned Sarawak’s economy from an agriculture-based model to an industrialised one, aligning with the national agenda to elevate the people’s income from a medium to a high-income economy by 2030. Taib believed that the State’s robust foundation for industrial development was built upon the successful development of a strong network infrastructure, as well as the establishment of over one million hectares of oil palm estates.
When Taib assumed leadership of the State government on March 26, 1981, Sarawak found itself among the three least developed regions in the country. The poverty rate was alarmingly high, reaching approximately 70 per cent, and there were still remnants of armed communist terrorists posing threats in certain pockets of the Rejang Area Security Command (Rascom).
At that time, the infrastructural connectivity was limited to urban areas like Kuching, Sibu, and Miri, while the majority of the State remained largely disconnected.
To address these challenges and crystallise the politics of development, Taib introduced the concept of ‘The Confluence of Rivers’. Initially, this concept may have seemed vague to the people, but its purpose was to emphasise the importance of mutual respect in a multi-religious and multi-racial society in Sarawak.
“These were some of the challenges we faced during the early years of Malaysia’s formation,” he highlighted.
The ‘Politics of Development’ served as Taib’s guiding philosophy, uniting the people and propelling Sarawak’s development at an accelerated pace. It aimed to lift Sarawak from its position as a backwater region, transforming it into an active and progressive State within the country.
Kota Samarahan as an educational hub
Recognising the critical importance of trained human resources for Sarawak’s continued development, Kota Samarahan was designated an education hub. It began with establishing Sarawak’s first public university, Unimas, followed by the UiTM Sarawak campus and the Tun Abdul Razak Teachers’ Training Institute.
As an education hub, Kota Samarahan naturally saw additional developments taking place, including the construction of housing projects, the establishment of the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) Kuching Heart Centre, Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (Tropi), and the Sarawak Science Centre.
The rapid physical transformation of Kuching as a city and the need to accommodate the growing population further contributed to the significant benefits experienced by Kota Samarahan. The expansion of infrastructure and amenities in the area have played a crucial role in supporting educational growth and meeting the evolving needs of the local community.
Recoda as a catalyst to develop renewable energy
Under Taib’s leadership, the Regional Corridor of Development Authority (Recoda) was established to leverage Sarawak’s vast hydroelectric power (HEP) potential. This led to the creation of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score), which aimed to implement HEP projects across the State. Notable HEP dams such as Batang Ai, Bakun, and Murum were constructed, with the ongoing construction of the Baleh HEP dam expected to be completed by 2027.
Through the utilisation of power generated by these HEP dams, Sarawak has successfully attracted billions of ringgit in foreign direct investment (FDI) by offering competitive tariffs. Today, Sarawak has also become an exporter of power to Kalimantan, Indonesia, further enhancing its economic prospects.
As a visionary leader, Taib also devised plans for both the coastal road and the Pan-Borneo Highway, both of which are nearing completion. These infrastructure projects have greatly improved connectivity within Sarawak, fostering economic growth and facilitating easier transportation and trade across the region.
PBB as the backbone of Sarawak’s political stability
The successful transformation of Sarawak into its present state can be attributed to the ‘Politics of Development’ and made possible due to the political stability of Sarawak with Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) as the backbone of the Sarawak government.
“Through PBB, we have established a robust and enduring government, working in harmony with other component parties such as the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
“This coalition has provided the necessary stability and continuity required for implementing our development agenda,” Taib highlighted.
Taib, who led PBB for 33 years, expressed his appreciation for the collective efforts of these parties in ensuring the political stability that has been instrumental in driving Sarawak’s progress.
Sarawak Regatta as symbol of harmony
To further solidify the existing harmonious society, Taib took the initiative to reintroduce the Sarawak Regatta, an event initially introduced by James Brooke to foster social interactions among previously warring factions.
Today, the Sarawak Regatta attracts thousands of individuals from diverse backgrounds, gathering at the banks of the Kuching Waterfront to witness the magnificent spectacle. Over time, the Sarawak Regatta has come to symbolise peace and harmony among Sarawakians, transcending racial and religious boundaries.
“As such, the current peace and harmony must be continuously promoted and preserved as we have achieved them through much sweat and blood in the course of our history such as through the Confrontation and communist threats,” he reminded.
Safeguarding peace and harmony to enable Sarawak to achieve developed status by 2030
Taib, who assumed the role of the 7th Governor of Sarawak on Feb 28, 2014, after leading Sarawak for a remarkable 33 years, reminded that the peace and harmony, as well as political stability, enjoyed to this day should never be taken for granted, especially by the younger generation.
“I would also like to urge our younger generation to appreciate the current political stability that we have been enjoying,” he said.
In light of Sarawak’s 60th anniversary of independence within Malaysia, Taib offers valuable advice to everyone. “We must continue to hold our leaders in high regard, just as we respect our parents. By doing so, we can ensure the continuous transformation of Sarawak, working towards achieving developed status by 2030.”
It is through mutual respect and collective efforts that Sarawak will continue to progress and thrive.
Recognitions and awards
In recognition of his immense contributions to the development of both the State and the nation, Taib has been honoured with Sarawak’s highest award, the Satria Bintang Sarawak (SBS), bestowing upon him the esteemed title Pehin Sri.
Additionally, he has been bestowed with the nation’s highest honour, the Darjah Kebesaran Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara (SSM), carrying the title Tun.
Furthermore, Taib has received special awards from various countries, including Australia, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, and Brunei. These awards reflect the international acknowledgement and appreciation for his exceptional achievements and dedication. — DayakDaily
