Taib keeps all guessing on impending resignation

KUCHING: The sight of a light metallic blue Rolls Royce with a pri- vate Kuching registration number KR1963Q here turned a few heads. Seated inside was Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

While it is not unusual for the Chief Minister to go around in a car other than the official one bearing the “Ketua Menteri Sarawak” plate, it has drawn attention to his impending resignation after leading the state government for 33 years.

Interestingly, the number “1963” on the Rolls Royce commemorates the year when Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore joined the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia.

Journalists began thronging the PBB headquarters as early as 9am yesterday to cover what could be Taib’s last chairing of the state Barisan Nasional council meeting.

Several state component party presidents were also there, among them Tan Sri Dr James Masing of PRS, Tan Sri William Mawan of SPDP and Tan Sri Peter Chin of SUPP.

Also present was Sibu SUPP chairman Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, who lingered at the foyer with Masing and Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu standing by to greet Taib, who arrived at around 10.10am.

Taib who looked calm in his golden batik shirt, shook hands with several state Barisan MPs and assemblymen and chatted with Jabu before heading to the conference room.

Although the meeting was behind closed doors, photographers were given a brief opportunity to take their best shots inside.

The meeting adjourned for lunch at around 1pm. As Taib exited the dining hall some 40 minutes later, reporters rushed towards him hoping to get some comments.

Many questions were thrown in, mostly asking about the date of his resignation and his successor.

Taib gave subtle hints, saying that he would meet head of state Tun Abang Salahuddin before the latter’s term expires this Feb 28 and quipped: “So that I can get full salary for February.”

Housing and Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, on the other hand, was very cheerful when replying to questions.

Second Resource Planning Minis­ter Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, the other candidate, appeared calm and cautious when answering questions. Special Functions Minis-ter Tan Sri Adenan Satem, however, slipped away from the venue undetected.