Tuesday, January 27

Four are possible as Taib’s successor?


Is Abdul Taib Mahmud really anxious now to look for a successor? This seems to be the hint when he made reference to the criteria of his successor in a speech read by George Chan at the annual general meeting of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) in Sibu 10 January 2009.

Previously he would be furious with reporters when the question of his stepping down or his successor being asked. But at the SPDP function he seemed to be anxious when he included the subject of successor in his speech. Could he be hard-pressed to look for one knowing that he is now in the twilight zone of his career?

Abdul Taib Mahmud, Sarawak Chief Minster since March 1981, has been saying it now and then that he is still looking for his successor. Since he expressed his intention to step down more than 10 years ago, he had identified a number of politicians who should take over from him. Unfortunately, one by one of them have now disappeared into political oblivion. Among the politicians were Bujang Ulis, Abang Abu Bakar, Effendi Norwawi and Adenan Satem.

At that SPDP function, Taib clearly stated that ANYONE regardless of race could be supported to take over from him as the chief minister.

“He must be trained to do the job from now. The criteria are that he must be smart and sincere in the struggle to develop the state and raise the living standard of the people.”

Immediately coming into our focus are two deputy presidents of PBB the back-bone of the State Government: Alfred Jabu anak Numpang, deputy president (I) and deputy chief minister and Abang Zohari Tun Openg, deputy president (II) and Minister of Housing.

No one can deny that Jabu has all the experience and the expertise to be the chief minister of Sarawak. There is no necessity for him to be trained NOW to hold the highest office in the State the way the Police personnel are being trained for promotions to higher ranks. A graduate in Agriculture, he has been tutored by two Sarawak’s greatest politicians, Abdul Rahman Yakub and Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Like Taib, Jabu who had been elected as State assemblyman for Layar since 1974 has been holding various ministerial posts including deputy chief minister, first under Abdul Rahman Yakub, and then under Abdul Taib Mahmud from March 1981.

Jabu’s main problem is that he has been picking quarrels with those who do not share his political views or see the things the way he sees them. Thus the majority of educated Dayaks and Dayak non-governmental organisations (NGOs) do not support him as their leader.

He is only being regarded as the Dayak leader from Betong where he concentrates his development and political efforts. He has no ideas to develop other districts or divisions. Even projects meant for other divisions have been ‘hijacked’ to Betong.

These are Jabu’s minus points. In the words of Taib Mahmud that someone who takes over from him must be “smart and sincere in the struggle to develop the State and raise the living standard of the people.”

Still, Jabu can enhance his position as the undisputed Dayak leader if he knows how to tackle the educated Dayaks and Dayak NGOs such as calling for a dialogue and seeking their advice and opinions as how to improve the Dayak community. They can be his “think tank”.

Another chief minister material is Abang Zohari. An MBA graduate from a British university, he has shown to be a very effective and capable minister. When Taib appointed him as industrial development minister, he was able to bring billions of ringgit worth of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) to Sarawak.

After he left and moved to the tourism ministry, the amount of FDIs to Sarawak declined sharply. In the tourism ministry, he turned it into a machine-making money earning billions of ringgit from tourists who came from Japan, Korea, China, Arab and European countries.

In the last cabinet reshuffle, Abang Zohari was moved from the tourism ministry to the ailing housing ministry which he still holds till this day. He was shocked to find out that the ministry was nearly “bankrupt” and was no fund to build even a single house. And what he did was to meet his federal counterpart and discussed his problem. From the discussion, he was able to secure RM200 million to carry out people’s housing projects in the State.

Abang Zohari’s other quality is that he is kind-hearted and approachable and earns the respect of the people. The Malays in Kuching are his bastion of support. In the party he has strong support from the party members especially the Ibans as evident by the support they gave him when he contested against Adenan Satem in 1998 PBB election for the post of deputy president. Despite Adenan Satem receiving the full support of the chief minister, Abang Zohari defeated him hands down.

Another person who can be considered as a possible successor to Taib Mahmud is Awang Tengah Ali Hassan. He appears to be the most powerful minister after Taib holding very important portfolios. Like Adenan, the Dayaks are suspicious of him, especially the way he handles the NCR land issues. To be an effective chief minister, he needs the support of the Dayaks.

Coming distant fourth is perhaps Taib’s own son, Sulaiman who is now a deputy minister in the federal cabinet. It appears that he is being trained and groomed NOW to take over the PBB leadership.


All the four politicians have every chance to be the next chief minister. But Sarawak’s book-makers are predicting that Sulaiman is the hot favourite to take over as chief minister and to continue Taib’s legacy, assuming that BN still wins in the next election.

Is there any taker?

However, to sum up, the Dayaks especially the Ibans do not mind who is being appointed as the next chief minister be he Chinese, Malay or Iban as long as he is able to solve the problem of NCR land that has haunted the native landowners since the State government’s amendments of the Land Code in 2000. –The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

No. Abdul Taib Mahmud is not preoccupied with the idea of succession. He may appear to be a bit of an old hat, but really, it’s not in regard to how old he is, or how he has been this country’s lynchpin since 1960. Taib Mahmud has carved his own legend, and history, will be fair to him. He took part in various internal “coup d etats”, whether this was in the 60s, the 80s or in the 90s, and wherever or whatever the setting was, symbolically, the old Sarawakian Hornbill was there time and again, to serve him and to save him . He deliberately allowed rumours to spread to flush out dissent, and to these series of exercises, he was remarkably successful in ensuring the outcome was positive to him and him alone.

The thing is, the article above invites our attention, and our own thoughts on to the mini narratives it raises. It talks of Malay and Dayak politics, but it shies away from the central issues.

In terms of Dayak politics, the polity, the entire movement was shaped by Taib Mahmud. He picked and chose leaders who were subservient and none too bright, and who were loyal enough to carry out their own missions. He subdued the Iban elements of PESAKA, and through a series of proxies, he brought down Kalong Ningkan’s SNAP, Leo Moggie’s and Tajem’s PBDS and any and every independent formation in the State. In 30 years, he literally manhandled the Dayak pitbull to HEEL. The final downfall of Dayak politics, ironically, was brought forward by the Dayaks themselves, and not by Abdul Taib Mahmud. To that end, Abdul Taib Mahmud is completely and most resolutely blameless. History will be unkind to all Dayak leaders in this sense.

The Malays, the entire Malay leadership in Sarawak, was splintered, right from the very early beginning. Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, Sarawak’s Hero of Heroes, dared to dream where others feared to tread, and that was Sarawak’s Independence. So Tawie, slowly brings out the worse here, he ruminates on Malay leaders in the face of Abang Johari, but as usual, we have to fill in the details. On the other side were the Dato Bandars, Abangs and Wans, all sprinkled throughout the State, and all divided, much like the Dayaks, on the issues of their politics. Thus in 1987, at the behest Rahman Ya’Kub, it culminated with the few Malay leaders in PBB who dared, rebelled and joined a pointless mutiny to overthrow Taib’s stewardship of Sarawak. This was the final nail in their coffin, and with that election, all the rebels within the Malay ethnic group, were swept away, in a sea entirely of their own undoing. Fortunately for the rest of the Malays, they had Taib, they had Wan Junaidi, they had Abang Jo, who in turn, did much to repair the internal rifts, in which to this day, is still being felt vigorously in certain middle class quarters. In all fairness, Taib Mahmud, is again completely blameless. He was far benevolent to the Malays then he would otherwise have been to others.

What off course, this article does not mention is the Sarawak Chinese. Aaaah yes, the Sarawak Chinese. Who can forget their contribution to Sarawak’s history? The Sarawak Chinese learnt their lessons well, and much, much earlier than the other two groups, and were in a comparative position, to understand, in the peace process of 1973, their lot in Malaysia. The Sarawak Chinese abandoned their armed struggle, and immediately SUPP took stock of the situation at hand, shaped and moved the rural Chinese (mainly Foochows) to sit together with the urban Chinese. The first generation leaders the likes of Wee Boon Ping, Wee Hood Teck, Ong Kee Hui, were all replaced by divisional towkays like Robert Lau, George Chan and other more raucous figures. Again, just like the Malays and Dayaks, the Chinese were divided, and DAP made its entry and presence felt. Prosperity to this day is spread more evenly amongst the Sarawak Chinese, and now with the end of the Timber boom, NCR land is now the final frontier, the final push for the huge engines of the Chinese economy. Again, Taib is completely and utterly blameless, because unlike the author, the unspoken part of this article is the point about how all the three individual communities came to resemble one another in behaviour, and in political practice.

So the succession is not the issue. The reason why it is made into the issue, and why it concerns all Sarawakians, is the final guilt ridden shame they carry with themselves, together till now. Everybody wants to be with the winner. The most spineless, inveterate, immoral man is doomed to pursue survival, and in Sarawak, that is identifying with the leader, each time, all the time. The psychology of the ingratiating neo acolyte is the correct term, ball polishing is what others would call it. The next successor to the throne would be someone Taib could identify with, someone who shares his background, someone who has shared his experiences. But in reality, that is not the point of this article.

Anonymous said...

The choice of Taib's successor will be chosen based on what Taib wants to be or does when he leaves office.
If he wants to be the Governor, he will choose Jabu. Like that, he will still control Jabu as the CM while he is the Governor.
If Taib leave the scene completely,which is unlikely and say he will migrate,it will be Abg Jo or Sulaiman or Tengah, in that order.

Anonymous said...

I practically agreed with the author on this particular issue. It really doesn’t matter who is the next Chief Minister of Sarawak. He, who gives us equal opportunity, to the currently available opportunities, will be THE Chief Minister of the People of Sarawak.

Anonymous said...

The Dayaks have always been behind PBB. Taib destroyed everything during his reign. Even Rahman Yaakob would never have committed the attrocities that we see today. Knowing Taib, when he goes down, he will bring the whole party down with him. We have no other choice but to rally behind PKR or even DAP from now onwards. The days of PBB are over. There is nothing to salvage from "Our Fathers'" party.

Anonymous said...

Sarawak need new flexible leader///
During Taib "Throne" he just focus how to "amass" wealth as much as posibbly...He ignore n don care what will happen to Borneo People..An issues of NCR at Bintulu..jelu digaga ka rumah...so what next!!!!
We Need Flexible And Young Leader??

Anonymous said...

Anyone who takes over Taib will have to return our NCLs. The NCR issue should be the main concern of us, the Dayak voters. The Dayaks are being driven out of their land,the land that the have been living off of since time immemorial. It is really sad to see the luke warm support from the other communities to our cause. With this in mind, we will have to unite and fight the greater powers on our own.

We should not give in to the greed of a few... NOT EVEN AN INCH!!!!

Anonymous said...

By what Uban is planning and executing, it is apparent all Jabu, Jo and Tengah will have no chance to the throne. Uban is training up Sulaiman and preparing him to the next CM throne, all other three can stop dreaming. Jabu will be satisfied, so will Jo and Tengah...no contesting and choice will happen, good luck J, J and T.

Another alternative is, Uban will say people still love him, party needs him, Sarawak can not progress without him, so HE will stay another term....ha..ha, and PBB continue to play the BALLS of SUPP, PRS and SPDP

Anonymous said...

Your blog has so many Mr.Anonymous; they are all disgruntled politicians.May be some of Mr.Anonymous are-yet-to be politician, still partyless, I presume.

Anonymous said...

Mr.Anonymous All,

The appointment of the Chief Minister vested in the Yang di-Pertua Negeri under section 6(3)(a) of the Constitution of The State of Sarawak, 1963.The person must command the confidence of a majority of the members of the DUN.
It is not for you and me to decide, though it is possible to do it through ballot papers in the State General Election.Are you confident to defeat PBB? Not that easy my friends....until you get bald!

Anonymous said...

Suruh kir toyor bagi mereka tu penyapu. Ketiga-tiga mereka tidak layak ,,sama seperti bapak si kesualiman...Tahi mahnuk

Anonymous said...

I don't know what is Uchu Keling aka James Guang up to in his blog..apple polishing Jabu & Taib laban bisi business enggau sidak iya or got nothing post in his blog..well again this is democracy country, James Guang can say anything in his blog...James Guang just post your own idea if you love Taib & Jabu not need to write "In respond of The Broken Shield" or "In respond of DayakBaru"..nuan tuk meh nganchur ke Dayak..Just for your info, "DayakBaru & BrokenShield" enda kala complaint utai ka di post nuan....no wonder Dayak enda maju..terang2 Jabu & Taib munoh kitai dayak lubah2, agik gak nuan kerah2 nyukong sidak iya..minta ampun meh enti jako aku kasar..God Bless Dayak & James Guang

Anonymous said...

I would like to offer myself as a next Chief Minister of rich natural resource Sarawak. My agendas upon sitting in the office of CM.
1. Change the name of few idiot ministers and politicians, eg Jobbo, My call main, Jem semut, Jem the Worst, Pet Nonsense, Jail Lips. This will be stage one in my first week in office. Change of name will definitely an on-going process until all individual agreed.
2. My humble intention to upgrade and enrich myself first until i hit my first billion (belianlah). Later the belian will be used for building houses.
3.All NCR land belonging to political goons will be given titles on conditions that my bloggers friends and commentators will be benefactors of such land. How great.
4. All ministries top post will be given to bloggers.
5. There will be no more election (subject to blogger's opinion) and Ministers will be appointed based on meritocracy. No more ex-head master,ex-government servant, ex-teachers. The ex shall then be axed. This is to avoid problems that might crop-up with the "saya yang menurut perintah" mentality. That mentality is existing in today's scenario.

The rest of the agendas will be discussed at an open space, maybe state stadium, reservior park next to merdeka palace over a cup coffee.

For those who agreed that I be the next CM, please nod the head and your hand's up.

Yes, yes, you all agreed. I now declared myself the CM of Sarawak. I need to congratulate myself on my achievement. This evening i be having a can or two of stella. Cheerrrsss.........

let piss the succession of CM of Sarawak. very funny.... hahahahahahahahahaha....

NEIL said...

Taib will rule until his final hour before he hand over the power to is son.

Anonymous said...

Hi everyone, just wanna let you guys know the same article like this was posted before on MalaysiaToday and Malaysiakini which promoting Abang Jo... It make me laughed to death to see the same modus operandi. Can't we see the Abang Jo image photo is bigger than the rest while there isn't any critics towards him on that article compared to the others.

I belief this article was posted by Hakim Bujang the penulis upahan to Broken Shield.. Please correct me if I'm wrong. thanks

Anonymous said...

sulaiman is the biggest possible condidate....smells something monarchy???

Anonymous said...

Can we think that Abg Jo (who urinate in the trousers when shouted by Uban) be our next CM? Can be he survive alongside with Sulaiman?

Anonymous said...

"...The criteria are that he must be smart and sincere in the struggle to develop..."
"...Immediately coming into our focus are two deputy presidents of PBB the back-bone of the State Government: Alfred Jabu anak Numpang..."

Let see, the word 'smart' and 'J*bu'? Sorry, totally no relation whatsoever.

Anonymous said...

DeePo said...
sulaiman is the biggest possible condidate....smells something monarchy???

February 3, 2009 4:17 AM
______________________________________________________________________

I totally agreed with you 100%
These are because of the following factors and relevant important points that have to take into accounts before the new successor be picked to replace the Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud as the new Chief Minister of Sarawak, amongst others are;
1) The new Chief Minister must be from the Candidate who has the same skin, same colour of skin as Pak Uban, the same religion as Pak Uban,same visions and missions as Pak Uban and even the same blood as him or even got blood relationship to him. The reasons lies ahead are because the Pehin Seri Pak Uban is so afraid of back stabbing,revenge attitudes and alike,and dishonesty who then turned himself to against him in future. If such candidate picked-up, the latter would undermine and uncover his vast hidden wealth accummulated in Sarawak, Malaysia and Overseas eversince he becomes the Chief Minister of Sarawak since 1981. So due to such benevolent events and various episodes happened in Sarawak History, he would be very careful in choosing his successor. Not only the new successor has the credibility,dynamic,resourceful,respectful and good academic backgrounds but the person must be obidient to him and always obey him at all times. He learned a good lesson on the former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir who hand-over his power to Pak Lah and at the end, they became enemy with each other and such alike. So inorder to protect his vast interests in big local BOYs such as Shin Yang group of Cos,KTS Groups of Cos,Cahya Mata Sarawak(CMS),Sarawak Energy (SESCO),Bakun Dam,Incoming Murum Dam, SCORE,Tann group of Cos,Sanyan Groups of Cos,Rimbunan Hijau Groups of Cos,SOP,Samling Groups of Cos,etc. he would definitely won't choose the candidate who he thinks would undermine his credibilities, his hidden wealth including his family members.

2) Therefore, in view of such circumstances, Pehin Seri Pak Uban won't select any candidates from the SARAWAK LOCAL MALAYS LEADERS,afraid they will do back-stabbing against him later on.Afraid they will take revenge against him. Remember the untold Sarawak history of fighting between Pak Uban and his uncle Tun Rahman Yaakub sometime in 1987..wether we like it or not, such fighting were merely the "ACTION MOVIE ONLY" to further split the coordination and cooperations amongst the Dayaks in sarawak,Pak Uban quickly pick the so called Obidient Iban Leader by the name of Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang to assist him in fighting any rebel Iban Leaders in Sarawak.So his stuggle seemed fruitful as until today Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang gives full loyalty to him and even called him the "YANG DI KASIHI" eventhough his position as the DCM won't permit him to do so but he did it to show loyalty but the end roots, such behaviours and actions give down graded dignity and morale of the Bangsa Iban.
Based on the above analysis, Dato Seri Abg Johari would be excluded in his hidden list of sucession...
What more to say the so called self-declared Iban Paramount Chief ie, Tan Sri Alfred Jabu anak Numpang,he would be difinitely out in Pak Uban RADAR SCREEN on the candidate of New Sarawak Chief Minister...These are due too many factors that caused him out in Pak Uban Radar Screen..one clear factor is the Back-Stabbing,Disloyalty,Lembik Leadership Style, etc.

So, based on the above analysis, the most probably candidate to succeed him is his own SON. DATO'SERI SULAIMAN ABDUL RAHMAN TAIB...If not materialise, Pak Uban would be selecting the Ex-Minister or Present Ministers of MELANAU ORIGINS...because of the same religion, same race,same local dialects,same colour, same skin, same ideologies, same visions and missions. So the most likely candidate would be the Ex-Federal Minister Dato Seri Mohd Affendi Norwawi,Datuk Wahab Dollah,Dato Seri Adenan Satem (bro-in-law),etc. So Datuk Awg. Tengah would be out in his hidden LIST, this is because he is Local Malay Leader from Lawas, afraid of the same tragedy anticipated to be happened in future as earlier mentioned.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
DeePo said...
sulaiman is the biggest possible condidate....smells something monarchy???

February 3, 2009 4:17 AM
______________________________________________________________________

I totally agreed with you 100%
These are because of the following factors and relevant important points that have to take into accounts before the new successor be picked to replace the Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud as the new Chief Minister of Sarawak, amongst others are;
1) The new Chief Minister must be from the Candidate who has the same skin, same colour of skin as Pak Uban, the same religion as Pak Uban,same visions and missions as Pak Uban and even the same blood as him or even got blood relationship to him. The reasons lies ahead are because the Pehin Seri Pak Uban is so afraid of back stabbing,revenge attitudes and alike,and dishonesty who then turned himself to against him in future. If such candidate picked-up, the latter would undermine and uncover his vast hidden wealth accummulated in Sarawak, Malaysia and Overseas eversince he becomes the Chief Minister of Sarawak since 1981. So due to such benevolent events and various episodes happened in Sarawak History, he would be very careful in choosing his successor. Not only the new successor has the credibility,dynamic,resourceful,respectful and good academic backgrounds but the person must be obidient to him and always obey him at all times. He learned a good lesson on the former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir who hand-over his power to Pak Lah and at the end, they became enemy with each other and such alike. So inorder to protect his vast interests in big local BOYs such as Shin Yang group of Cos,KTS Groups of Cos,Cahya Mata Sarawak(CMS),Sarawak Energy (SESCO),Bakun Dam,Incoming Murum Dam, SCORE,Tann group of Cos,Sanyan Groups of Cos,Rimbunan Hijau Groups of Cos,SOP,Samling Groups of Cos,etc. he would definitely won't choose the candidate who he thinks would undermine his credibilities, his hidden wealth including his family members.

2) Therefore, in view of such circumstances, Pehin Seri Pak Uban won't select any candidates from the SARAWAK LOCAL MALAYS LEADERS,afraid they will do back-stabbing against him later on.Afraid they will take revenge against him. Remember the untold Sarawak history of fighting between Pak Uban and his uncle Tun Rahman Yaakub sometime in 1987..wether we like it or not, such fighting were merely the "ACTION MOVIE ONLY" to further split the coordination and cooperations amongst the Dayaks in sarawak,Pak Uban quickly pick the so called Obidient Iban Leader by the name of Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang to assist him in fighting any rebel Iban Leaders in Sarawak.So his stuggle seemed fruitful as until today Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang gives full loyalty to him and even called him the "YANG DI KASIHI" eventhough his position as the DCM won't permit him to do so but he did it to show loyalty but the end roots, such behaviours and actions give down graded dignity and morale of the Bangsa Iban.
Based on the above analysis, Dato Seri Abg Johari would be excluded in his hidden list of sucession...
What more to say the so called self-declared Iban Paramount Chief ie, Tan Sri Alfred Jabu anak Numpang,he would be difinitely out in Pak Uban RADAR SCREEN on the candidate of New Sarawak Chief Minister...These are due too many factors that caused him out in Pak Uban Radar Screen..one clear factor is the Back-Stabbing,Disloyalty,Lembik Leadership Style, etc.

So, based on the above analysis, the most probably candidate to succeed him is his own SON. DATO'SERI SULAIMAN ABDUL RAHMAN TAIB...If not materialise, Pak Uban would be selecting the Ex-Minister or Present Ministers of MELANAU ORIGINS...because of the same religion, same race,same local dialects,same colour, same skin, same ideologies, same visions and missions. So the most likely candidate would be the Ex-Federal Minister Dato Seri Mohd Affendi Norwawi,Datuk Wahab Dollah,Dato Seri Adenan Satem (bro-in-law),etc. So Datuk Awg. Tengah would be out in his hidden LIST, this is because he is Local Malay Leader from Lawas, afraid of the same tragedy anticipated to be happened in future as earlier mentioned.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



Based on your analysis, pls,don't forget our Ex-Federal Minister; Dato' Seri Mohd. Leo Michael Toyad...he is of Melanau Origins,SAME LOCAL DIALECTS AS PEHIN SERI PAK UBAN, SAME RACE, SAME SKIN,SAME EXPERIENCES AS HE ALSO EVER HELD THE FEDERAL POSTS. Before he was a Christian But NOW converted to ISLAM ALREADY. BASED ON THAT HE IS PRE-QUALIFIED FOR THE POST. Maybe he is preparing for throne of new Chief Minister silently for all this while. We never know,maybe he is secretly in the Pehin Seri Pak Uban hidden list as his successor in near future...ONLY TIME WILL TELL!!!