By Wong Choon Mei – Malaysia Chronicle
(taken from Hornbill Unleashed)
If the rumours turn out to be true, the next Sarawak Chief Minister could be a woman.
There is intense speculation that Abdul Taib Mahmud has made up his mind to pick as his successor Tanjong Manis MP Norah Abdul Rahman, his cousin and the daughter of Taib’s predecessor Tun Abdul Rahman Yakub. If so, Norah would be both Sarawak’s and Malaysia’s first woman Chief Minister.
Earlier this month, Taib said he was ready to call it a day if the people no longer wanted him. His statement sparked a chain of speculation as to who would succeed him. Among names that were touted were Abang Johari Abang Openg, Abang Openg Abang Sapiee, Adenan Satem, Alfred Jabu Numpang and Awang Tengah Awang Ali.
Among the five, the front-liner is seen to be Abang Johari, the son of Sarawak’s first governor Abang Openg Abang Sapiee. He is also deputy president II of Taib’s Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu or PBB.
But there are others who believe Taib will choose Norah, as part of a pact made with his uncle Abdul Rahman to ensure that power remains within their family and the Melanau community. Norah is also seen as a seat-warmer for Taib’s son Sulaiman, the Kota Samarahan MP and former deputy Tourism minister who has a notorious reputation for chasing after the high-life.
“There is much talk in Kuching that Tun Rahman’s daughter Norah is to be the next Chief Minister of Sarawak – to guard the ‘rear butt’ of Taib against corruption charges and to ensure the continuity of his business empire when he steps down,” prominent Dayak rights activist Dr John Brian Anthony wrote in his blog.
If the speculation is right, then Norah would have to stand for a state seat in the 10th Sarawak elections which were last held in May 2006. Since the state assembly was convened two months later, this means Taib can officially delay polls till July 2011.
At the moment, most pundits believe the Sarawak elections will be held in November 2010,
Meanwhile, PKR chief of Sarawak Baru Bian told Malaysia Chronicle that Taib plans to stay on despite offering to relinquish his position.,
"Every other day, one of his colleagues comes out in the local media calling for him to stay. One day, it is James Maseng, another it is Alfred Jabu and so on. One of them even said there should be a Taib “clone” because he is irreplaceable,” said Baru.
"But the fact is Taib is not ready to leave yet. How can he when there is so much evidence piling against him for corruption and what-not, how would he dare to step down? On this basis, he won’t call for elections until all the bad news about him cools down. Even if he is gung-ho, Kuala Lumpur may object, although of course he may not listen to them.”
The flamboyant white-haired Taib is known for his fabulous wealth. His huge trademark emerald ring and cream-colored Rolls Royce were once the symbols of the alleged corruption his critics used to attack him for.
But these are nothing compared to the latest revelations from the Sarawak Report, an online magazine dedicated to exposing his misdeeds. Intricate details have been uncovered about his sprawling overseas business connections and where he has invested his wealth. Several large Sarawakian firms have also been pinpointed for gifting him with special deals such as a US$7mil (RM23mil) mansion for only US$1 (RM3.20).
Pictures of his palatial homes around the world, furnished even more luxuriously than many Royal households, have been posted on the website and are gawked at by Sarawakians and also Malaysians in the rest of the country.
For these reasons, Prime Minister Najib Razak may be keen for the 74-year old Taib to step. So far, despite the mounting evidence and long string of complaints lodged with the police and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the federal government has refused to investigate or take action against Taib.
“There is very little that Kuala Lumpur can do or dare to do against Taib. He has been Chief Minister for 29 years, so you can imagine how powerful he is. The most that Najib can try is to broker some sort of deal for Taib to step down but it may not satisfy the old man. Unless someone very close to him takes his place and protects him from any witch-hunt, he won’t take the chance,” Baru said.
Also read articles under the "CM Succession Plan" label:
* Taib is to resign and his UMNO 'friends' are grinning
* Tiong is opening door for UMNO to come into Sarawak?
* NEWS FLASH - Sarawak to be an independent country???!!!
* Asfia and his grandiose plan (Part 2 of 2)
* Johari berdepan tekanan sekat pelan peralihan kuasa
* Ahli Sayap Pesaka PBB tidak puas hati
* 'Orang Lama' dalam Pelan Peralihan Kuasa
* Asfia and his grandiose plan (Part 1 of 2)
* Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud ajak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang undur
* Datuk Amar Abang Johari will be the Chief Minister?
Is Norah Abdul Rahman Deputy President or Vice President in PBB?
ReplyDeleteWhat's the function of top management in PBB?
This assumption (Norah be next cm) very humiliating Jabu, Abang Johari, Awang Tengah, Adenan Satem.
Also humiliating Sarawak people. Please dont spread this baseless rumour.
CM is not silly to put Norah as next cm unless cm want turbulence in PBB or BN Sarawak.
Dalam politik anything can happen. Cos impossible is nothing.!!Bagus juga pastikan kerja2 di MP sekarang selesaikan dahulu..!!
ReplyDeleteSetuju juga..tapi SU dia kena lebih 'lembut' daripada bosnya..jangan berlagak lebih daripada bos.Lebih sudu daripada cawan..!! Ha..Nolia..!! awas kerana awak bos awak jadi mangsa nanti!!
if impossible is nothing...
ReplyDeletelet think if Pakatan lead Sarawak
kempunanlah olang lobi Norah...hehehe
Just imagine Baru Bian as next cm..he always in mind of sarawak indigenous people...know everything in NCR issues..very credential lawyer..and the record very clean...very humble guy..but so knowledgable..
Baru Bian? an orang ulu to manage ibans, the majority in Sarawak? he think he is Taib? how do you expect a very humble guy to lead the ibans? or he is there because easy for anwar to control him because the only way he can stay in power is by kowtow to anwar
ReplyDeletejawap jawap ...
ReplyDeletenang ada YB pompuan jadi Ketua Menteri? Kiamat kita..Megawati and Aroyo..apa jadi? Kemusnahan berlaku...jangan lawan Al Kitab.
ReplyDeleteOrang yang molah andaian bahawa YB Norah nganti CM betul2 nunjuk orang ya sik tak pertadbiran dan sik tauk procedur politik. Jangan main hentam ajak U, Munkitak orang madah Awg Tengah ke, Jabu ke.., percaya jua aku.Mun Taib milih jabu jadi ketua menteri adalah tindakan yang munasabah, ini bermakna PBB mendapat sokongan padu daripada kaum dayak, dan PBB akan menjadi kuat kembali. Kalau Awg Tengah di pilih oleh CM nganti nya ini bermakna Abg Jo tiada ketokohan pemimpin di mata Taib. Di samping Awg tengah bertindak sebagai puppet untuk memastikan CMS berkembang maju dan memperolehi contrak yang lumayan. Sekarang dalam fikiran Taib untuk memilih penganti ialah orang yang dapat membina empayarnya iaitu CMS. Sama sama kita berfikir logiknya andaian saya.
ReplyDeleteApa yang mustahil atau tidak logik jika CM pilih YB Norah ganyi nya. Ia bala nya pun. The Melanau Dynasty must be sustained. Ok.
ReplyDeleteJANGAN MAIN GILA! WHAT THE HELL HAPPEN TO SARAWAK PEOPLE? DONT BE A SICK DUMB RACIST FUCK! ITS NOT ABOUT MALAY, MALANAU,DAYAK OR ANY OTHER RACE IN SARAWAK. LET US WORK TOGETHER. JANGAN API-APIKAN SEMANGAT PERKAUMAN SEPERTI POLITIK SEMENANJUNG MALAYA! KITA ADA KUASA SEBAGAI RAKYAT. TAIB ATAU MANA-MANA PEMIMPIN YANG NAIK SIAPA YANG NAIKKAN MEREKA? KITA RAKYAT YANG NAIKKAN MEREKA. KALAU TAK SUKA JANGAN PILIH MEREKA LAGI UTK PILIHANRAYA AKAN DATANG NI!TAK GUNA KITA NAK GADUH DI SINI. SARAWAK KITA PUNYA! JANGAN BIARKAN ANASIR LUAR SAMA ADA UMNO ATAU PKR MEMPENGARUHI POLITIK KITA. KITA ADA CARA KITA SENDIRI DI SINI. LIHAT APA YANG BERLAKU KEPADA SAUDARA KITA DI SABAH? CUKUPLAH KITA BERSATU DI BAWAH SATU BANGSA IAITU BANGSA BUMIPUTERA SARAWAK!!
ReplyDeleteMy respected friends,
ReplyDeleteListen to what I gonna say. With your voice and your votes, you can make it clear that in this moment, in this upcoming election, there are something happening in our beloved State of Sarawak. There are something happen when Sarawakians who are YOUNG in AGE AND SPIRIT, who never participated in the politic before turn out in number we had never seen because they know in their heart, that this time must be different, regardless whether they are rich or poor, black or white, Malays, Iban, Bidayuh, Chinese and Indians, we are ready to take this STATE FUNDAMENTALLY NEW DIRECTION. That is what happening in Sarawak right now, change is what happening in Sarawak, my friends.
We mobilise OUR VOICE to CHALLENGE the money and influence that stood in our way and challenge ourselves to reach for something better. There is NO PROBLEM WE CANNOT SOLVE. There is NO DESTINY THAT WE CANNOT FULFIL. We gonna tell those giant that while we sit on the table it does not mean we need to buy every chair. NOT NOW NOT THIS TIME. WE CAN DO THIS WITH OUR NEW MAJORITY...
It is not just about what I WILL DO AS A VOTER but YOU AND THOSE WHO LOVE THIS STATE. The people of Sarawak can change it, that this UPCOMING ELECTION is all about. We know the battle ahead will be longer THAN WHAT WE HAD EVER EXPECTED.
But always remember that no matter what OBSTACLE STAND IN OUR WAYS, nothing could withstand the POWER OF MILLIONS OF VOICES CALLING FOR CHANGE. We have been told for we are not to do this by a course of SINGLE VOICE. It would only grow louder more decently. A week, a month to come. We have BEEN warned from offering the people of this state FALSE HOPES. But in the history of Sarawak, there is NOTHING FALSE ABOUT HOPE.
For when we have faced down impossible odds, we have been told we are not ready or we should not try or that we can. Generation of the young have responded with a simple creek sums UP THE SPIRITS OF THE PEOPLE.
As we learnt THE HOPE OF A LITTLE GIRL who goes to public school is THE SAME AS THE DREAM OF A LITTLE BOY who learn from the sketches on the mud and broken wall. We will remember that there is something happening in Sarawak. THAT WE ARE NOT AS DIVIDED AS OUR POLITIC SUGGEST. That WE are ONE PEOPLE we are ONE NATION ONE SARAWAK.. and we WILL BEGIN the next great chapter in the history of Sarawak from coast to coast, from sea to sea,..... CHANGE IS WHAT HAPPENING TO SARAWAK..