KUALA LUMPUR – Two DAP elected representatives in Sarawak will not back the motion of appreciation for the late Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen said Taib, who was former chief minister and governor, had a “cloud of suspicion” over him when he was chief minister.
“It is not my character and of me to speak ill of the dead. The late Tun Pehin Sri may have contributed to the development of the state but there was a cloud of suspicion over his administration when he was the chief minister.
“As such, I will not participate in the debate except to state my stand and that of my colleague YB Pending (Violet Yong), that we will not support this motion,” he said in a Facebook post.
Chong, who is Padungan assemblyman, added that the two lawmakers would also abstain from debating the motion.
The motion of appreciation was tabled by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg today, seconded by his deputy Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas.
Taib died aged 87 on February 21 after falling ill last year.
However, the diminutive and flamboyant Sarawak leader left an indelible mark, as he was the state’s chief minister for 33 years and later, the governor for nearly a decade.
His long shadow in politics was not without controversies, drama and heavy criticism, especially questions surrounding the massive wealth garnered by him and his family members.
Despite the allegations and criticism, Taib was never charged. – May 8, 2024