Taib Mahmud was a prominent Malaysian politician, recognized as the seventh Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak from March 2014 to January 2024 and the fourth Chief Minister of Sarawak from March 1981 to February 2014. He earned the moniker “Father of Modern Sarawak” for his significant contributions to the state’s development.
Bio/Wiki
Age- 87 years
Full name-Abdul Taib bin Mahmud
Height-N/A
Weight-N/A
Born- 21 May 1936
Birthplace- Miri, Malaysia
Death date- 21 February 2024
Spouse- Raghad Kurdi Taib (m. 2010), Laila Taib (m. 1959–2009)
Profession-Politician
Nationality- Malaysian
Cause of Death
Abdul Taib Mahmud, the former Sarawak chief minister and influential tycoon known for his involvement in the deforestation of Malaysia’s largest state in the name of economic progress, has passed away at the age of 87 due to illness. He died in a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur at 4:28 am on February 21 after battling a prolonged illness, as announced by his daughter Hanifah Hajar Taib in a Facebook post. Tun Taib concluded his decade-long tenure as Sarawak’s governor in January 2024, retiring from public life. Throughout his 33-year term as chief minister of the resource-rich state on Borneo’s north coast, Mr. Taib garnered international attention, distinguishing himself among his peers in Malaysia.
Family
Abdul Taib Mahmud’s parents are Mahmud bin Haji Abang Yahya (father) and Hajjah Hamidah binti Yakub (mother). Taib’s father hailed from a lineage tracing back to Pehin Datu Yahya Setia Raja, an aristocrat with connections to the Royal Court of Brunei. Despite this prestigious ancestry, Taib experienced poverty as his father worked as a carpenter for the Shell Oil Company. His uncle, Abdul Rahman Ya’kub, took on the responsibility of raising Taib from his early years.
Wife
Taib Mahmud married Laila Taib, a Polish Muslim of Lipka Tatar descent, at the Adelaide mosque in South Australia on January 13, 1959, when she was 18 years old. Sadly, Laila passed away from cancer on April 29, 2009. Later, at the age of 74, Taib entered into a second marriage with Ragad Waleed Alkurdi, a Syrian-born widow in her early 30s, on December 18, 2010. The couple was spotted together attending a wedding reception of a former MP in Kuala Lumpur on January 8, 2011.
Children
Abdul Taib Mahmud has four children: Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib, Hanifah Hajar Taib, Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib, Jamilah Taib Murray.
Career
Having held the position of Chief Minister of Sarawak from 1981 to 2014, Taib Mahmud earned the distinction of being the longest-serving Chief Minister in Malaysia, assuming the role at the age of 45. Additionally, he served as a member of the Malaysian Parliament (MP) for an impressive 38 years, making him the second longest-serving parliamentarian in Malaysia after Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. However, Taib and his extended family faced frequent allegations of corruption and personal enrichment from Sarawak’s natural and economic resources.
On February 12, 2014, Taib submitted his resignation letter to the Governor of Sarawak, officially concluding his 33-year tenure as Chief Minister. His former brother-in-law, Adenan Satem, succeeded him as Chief Minister, effective from March 1, 2014. Concurrently, Taib received official recognition as the 7th Sarawak Head of State from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara on February 28 and officially assumed office the following day. This appointment made him the second Sarawakian, after his uncle Abdul Rahman Ya’kub, to hold the position of Governor after stepping down as Chief Minister.
Net Worth
At the time of his passing, Abdul Taib Mahmud’s net worth was estimated to be $1 billion.
