Taib Mahmud a driving force of Sarawak's progress, says Bersatu's Hamz

PETALING JAYA: The late former Sarawak governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud played an important role in the administration of the state and Malaysia as a whole, says Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.

The Opposition leader and Bersatu secretary-general said Abdul Taib's contributions had allowed Sarawak to achieve its great progress to date.

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“I knew the late Tun Pehin Sri (Abdul Taib) very well... (he was) an exemplary figure and leader I respect very much.

“His passing is a great loss to Sarawak and the country.

“May Allah SWT accept all his devotional deeds, forgive all his sins and place the late Tun Pehin Sri among the righteous as well as grant him Jannah (heaven),” the Larut MP said on Facebook on Wednesday (Feb 21).

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Hamzah extended his condolences to the family of the former chief minister, who passed away at 4.40am at a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

Abdul Taib will be laid to rest at the family burial ground at his private residence in Demak Jaya after a state funeral at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly complex in Kuching on Thursday (Feb 22).