Abdul Taib Mahmud
Abdul Taib bin Mahmud (Jawi: عبدالطيب بن محمود; born 21 May 1936) is a Malaysian politician who served as the 7th Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak from March 2014 to January 2024 and the 4th Chief Minister of Sarawak from March 1981 to February 2014, making him the longest-serving head of government of a Malaysian state, serving in the position for 33 years and the longest MP in Sarawak. He served as President of the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), which was part of the Barisan Nasional coalition until 2018. He is of ethnic Melanau descent.
Abdul Taib Mahmud SMN PSM DK I SBS SPDK PGDK SUMW SSDK DGSM DPPN DP DA | |
|---|---|
| عبدالطيب محمود | |
Abdul Taib in 2017 | |
| 7th Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak | |
| In office 1 March 2014 – 26 January 2024 | |
| Premier | Abang Abdul Rahman Johari Abang Openg |
| Chief Minister | See list
|
| Preceded by | Abang Muhammad Salahuddin |
| Succeeded by | Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar |
| 4th Chief Minister of Sarawak | |
| In office 26 March 1981 – 28 February 2014 | |
| Governor | |
| Deputy | See list
|
| Preceded by | Abdul Rahman Ya'kub |
| Succeeded by | Adenan Satem |
| 2nd and 4th President of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu | |
| In office 26 March 1981 – 28 February 2014 | |
| BN chairman | |
| Preceded by | Abdul Rahman Ya'kub |
| Succeeded by | Adenan Satem |
| In office October 1974 – 1976 | |
| Preceded by | Jugah Anak Barieng |
| Succeeded by | Abdul Rahman Ya'kub |
| Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Kota Samarahan | |
| In office 1970 – 13 February 2008 | |
| Succeeded by | Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib |
| Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly for Balingian | |
| In office 2001 – 28 February 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Abdul Ajis Abdul Majeed |
| Succeeded by | Yussibnosh Balo |
| Majority | 5,154 (2011) |
| Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly for Asajaya | |
| In office 1987–2001 | |
| Preceded by | New constituency |
| Succeeded by | Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah |
| Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly for Sebandi | |
| In office 1981–1987 | |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Abdul Taib bin Mahmud 21 May 1936 Miri, Raj of Sarawak |
| Citizenship | Malaysian |
| Political party | Barisan Ra'ayat Jati Sarawak (1963–1968) Parti Bumiputera Sarawak (1968–1973) Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (1973–2014) |
| Spouses | Laila Taib
(m. 1959; died 2009)Ragad Waleed Alkurdi
(m. 2010) |
| Children | Jamilah Taib Murray Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib Hanifah Hajar Taib |
| Residence(s) | 1°34′39″N 110°22′36″E Demak Jaya, Jalan Bako, Kuching, Sarawak |
| Alma mater | University of Adelaide |
| Signature | |
Taib is informally known as Pak Uban, which translates into "White-haired Uncle". Among Chinese speaking communities he is known as Pek Moh which means "white hair". Another informal name for him, in reference to the British Brooke family that ruled Sarawak as White Rajahs in the 19th and early 20th century, is the "last white rajah" or "white-haired rajah". Holding the post of Chief Minister of Sarawak from 1981 to 2014, he is the longest serving Chief Minister in Malaysia. He assumed the Chief Minister post at the age of 45. Being a member of the Malaysian Parliament (MP) for 38 years, Taib is also the second longest-serving parliamentarian in Malaysia after Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. Taib and his wider family are regularly accused of corruption and personally benefiting from Sarawak's natural and economic resources.
On 12 February 2014, Taib handed over his resignation letter to the Governor of Sarawak to vacate his chief minister post, officially ending his 33 years of chief ministership. His former brother-in-law, Adenan Satem, succeeded him as Chief Minister with effect from 1 March 2014. At the same time, he received the official credentials as the 7th Sarawak Head of State from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara on 28 February, and officially took the oath of office on the following day. He became the second Sarawakian (after his uncle, Abdul Rahman Ya'kub) to be appointed as the Governor after formally relinquishing the post of Chief Minister.