Sarawak News February 11, 2006 16:40 PM Abdullah Visits Abdul Taib Mahmud WARM VISIT… Abdullah driving Abdul Taib on a buggy to visit the grave of the Chief Minister’s mother in Demak Jaya. Abdul Taib’s mother passed away last month. Pix: Hairul KUCHING, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi visited Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at his residence in Demak Jaya here Saturday. Arriving at Abdul Taib's residence at 11am, he was received by Abdul Taib, his wife, Puan Sri Laila Taib, and their youngest daughter, Hanipah. Giving a salam and smiling, Abdullah hugged Abdul Taib and they exchanged greetings before he was ushered into the house with the press photographers clicking away. Abdullah, who was earlier was received by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Adenan Satem upon touch down at the Kuching International Airport, spent about three hours with Abdul Taib and Laila. Deputy chief ministers Tan Sri George Chan and Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hassan and State Secretary Datuk Abdul Aziz Husain were also present. Speaking to reporters before departing for Kuala Lumpur, Abdullah said the visit was a private visit to see how Abdul Taib was doing after his operation. "I'm very happy that he is recovering very fast and he has already started chairing meetings, some planning committee meetings. I'm happy to hear that but he needs a litle bit more time to be really active but the progress is very good, so I'm very happy about it," said the prime minister. Abdul Taib underwent surgery in Singapore on Jan 11 to remove a small lump in his colon which doctors feared might be cancerous. While Abdul Taib was hospitalised, his mother, Hajah Hamidah Yakub, 89, died at the Normah Specialist Medical Centre here. Abdullah, who was accompanied by his sister-in-law, Rahmah Mahmood, visited the grave of Abdul Taib's mother and offered prayers and recited the Yassin and Tahlil for her soul. Present during the prayers, led by State Mosque deputy imam Ustaz Jorji Ismail, were Abdul Taib, Laila and daughter Hanipah, Dr Chan, Jabu, Awang Tengah and Abdul Aziz. Speaking to reporters after the visit, Abdul Taib said: "It's just a private visit. We didn't talk official. He (Abdullah) just wants to see how I'm doing. I said thank you very much and don't worry about me. It is very kind of him, very humane to take time to visit me." Asked whether Abdullah's visit was unexpected, Abdul Taib said: "Nobody expects to see the prime minister come all the way to see you. He does it out of the goodness of his heart and I'm very grateful and very touched by it. Thank you." Meanwhile, Abdullah spent about 15 minutes inspecting the Departure Hall of the renovated Kuching International Airport (KIA), before going to the VVIP Complex to board his aircraft home. Accompanying the prime minister on his tour of the airport were Dr Chan, Global Upline Sdn Bhd advisor Tan Sri Ting Pek Khiing and other state Cabinet ministers. Global Upline is the turnkey contractor for the upgrading of the airport which is expected to be completed by March next year. -- BERNAMA