| 'Blood Is Thicker Than Water', Says Tun Rahman Yakub Of Ties With Taib |
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By Caroline Jackson
KUCHING, Jan 2 (Bernama) -- Tun Abdul Rahman Yakub, who turns 80 tomorrow, said he has patched up his differences with his nephew, Sarawak Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, saying that "blood is thicker than water".
The former Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri said his relationship with Taib was much stronger, now that a minor misunderstanding between them in the past had been sorted out.
Rahman also said he had made the right decision to step down as Sarawak's third chief minister in 1981 and name Taib his successor.
Since retiring from active politics, Rahman, who served as Sarawak governor from 1981 to 1985, has been enjoying his free time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He has also devoted his time to kampung folks in his neighbourhood, initiating Islamic religious classes for them.
Rahman recalled the then British colonial government being happy that he had graduated with good results, having given him a scholarship to read law at Southampton University and Bar-at-Law from Lincoln's Inn in London.
At the end of 1953, he sat for the Senior Cambridge examinations together with 13 classmates at the St Joseph's School here and passed with Grade Two.
His family was originally from Mukah, the heartland of the Melanau but the young Bintulu-born Rahman grew up in Miri in the 1930s and right through the Japanese Occupation, where his late father eked out a living as a fisherman. In an interview with Bernama, Rahman, who was also the third Sarawak chief minister from 1970 to 1981, touched on his relationship with Taib then and now, the friction between them and Sarawak's future leaders.
He had served at the federal level as Lands and Mines deputy minister and later as Education minister before resigning to return to Sarawak as chief minister.
Below are excerpts of the interview:
Q : Tun, you have led a colourful public life. Indeed, it is the story of your life. Can you relate some of the ups and downs, especially during your tenure as chief minister and head of state?
A : Until the end of 1980, I was not feeling well, I had heart problems so I went to London for an operation. I came back and saw then prime minister, the late Tun Hussein Onn, and asked him for permission to step down as chief minister. He asked who should take over from me. I said the No. 2 in Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) was Abdul Taib Mahmud, the present Chief Minister. So, by right, he should succeed me.
But I have to get the party to agree. The party agreed. Therefore Taib became chief minister when I stepped down as Sarawak chief minister in 1981.
At the end of four years, starting from 1981, I stepped down as Sarawak governor but the Council of Rulers asked me to continue (as head of state).
I said I was flattered that they wanted me to continue my service but because of my health, I could not. Since retirement, I have been enjoying myself with my children, grandchildren, great grandchildren.
I'm convinced that I made the right decision to step down at the right time, when one's health does not permit one to continue to bear a heavy responsibility.
When I was governor, my wife Toh Puan Normah, she was Chinese, passed away in 1984.
It was a very big blow because she was so helpful when I was chief minister and minister at that time. She never interfered in politics, preferring to play the role of housewife, taking care of me and the children.
My present wife, Toh Puan Hayati Ahmad, is looking after me now.
When I was chief minister, I managed to persuade Jabu (Tan Sri Alfred Jabu) to resign his post as a civil servant in the Agriculture Department and became a politician. He contested against former chief minister (Tan Sri) Stephen Kalong Ningkan and defeated him. So he remains a deputy chief minister until today. A very amiable person, the rulers like him very much because he's very humble.
Q: At that time Tan Sri Jabu was considered a giant killer, wasn't he?
A: Oh yes, the first election was not with Ningkan. I think he won unopposed. Then there was a general election and he defeated Ningkan.
The wife (Senator Puan Sri Empiang Jabu) is very influential, very good wife. They team up very well.
Q: How is your relationship with Taib now?
A: Very good, he's my nephew. There was a minor misunderstanding due to the work of someone who died a few years ago, creating a lot of problems between us.
Taib invited me for dinner at his house last month, My daughters, I... we all went to his house. Praise be to Allah. I looked after Taib since he was a child.
Q : Would it be correct to say that your relationship with Taib is like "air dicincang tidak akan putus"? (Blood is thicker than water).
A: Yes, air tetap tidak putus. To us (uncle and nephew), it is not really a big issue. Somebody reported to him that I was going to topple him. That was not correct. He (Taib) discovered later that what they told him was completely wrong. He even told my daughter about it.
Q: Being an elder statesman of Sarawak, do you think you would advise our present chief minister on what's best for Sarawak's future?
A : No, he (Taib) knows very well. He grew up during my time, as minister in Kuala Lumpur and chief minister in Sarawak. He has got Bidayuh, Iban and Orang Ulu team with him.
Q : What do you think of the leaders who may take over from Taib when the time comes?
A : I had a long chit chat with Taib during dinner at his house recently. He was scratching his head. Between the two of us, we have administered Sarawak for a total of 35 years.
He (Taib) said he is having difficulty in trying to find someone who could succeed him and be accepted not only by the Malays and Melanaus but all the other races as well.
During my time, we had this background -- friends among the Iban people, Kenyah, Kayan and so on. When I was native officer, I had to travel from Baram to Miri on foot. I went to Marudi and remote areas when I was Sarawak assistant minister for Rural Development and stayed with the other local leaders.
Q : A few months ago Tun called for a press conference. It was regarding some speculation that you were endorsing one of your nephews, Datuk Salleh Jafaruddin, a former Deputy Education minister as Taib's successor.
A : I heard the report from my sister, Teh Yakub, who got it from her son in Miri. Someone was saying that I have mentioned this to Taib and that Taib agreed to make Salleh Jafaruddin his successor. So, I made a statement (that) I never interfere with Taib's decision and the party. I'm no longer active in politics.
It's up to Taib and the party, not only PBB but also the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP). There must be a consensus to really, really support someone. So far, Taib told me he has not found anyone. He's not very strong since he had his operation, as you know, cancer of the colon.
I don't know whether Salleh Jafaruddin is suitable or not, I don't know. I tried to avoid appointing just your own relations.
Q : Who do you think is suitable?
A : I don't know.
Q : How about Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Effendi Norwawi?
A : He doesn't want to come back. Taib has seen him a few times. He's a good successor if he wants to. He's a very good worker, Effendi Norwawi, so Pak Lah (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) has entrusted him to the Economic Planning Unit to implement the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
Q : How would you describe Taib now as a leader?
A : I don't see anyone measuring up to him. He's a very qualified person. He studied law in Australia and he got his feet on the ground.
Q : What is your comment on plans by the Sarawak government to celebrate the state's 45th anniversary of independence within Malaysia next year when the country had celebrated its 50th Merdeka anniversary last year?
A : We joined Malaysia in 1963 after Malaya was already independent. It's a good idea to remind people that we joined Malaysia voluntarily. As you know, we joined Malaysia on Sept 16 1963.
Q : Do you think that Umno is welcome to spread its wings in Sarawak in future?
A : I think Taib has made the right decision (not to bring Umno to Sarawak). At this stage, it's better for us to be just partners in the Barisan Nasional (BN), at least, for now, to have PBB as the state BN backbone, to run the state.
Q : Now that you have retired from active politics, what do you do during your spare time? How do you divide your time?
A : Children, grandchildren and home. I've started religious classes on Mondays and Thursdays and at night twice or three times a week, free of charge. The kampung people come here to learn, for example, how to pray properly according to Islamic teachings. That's the least I can do for the people here.
Q : What is your aspiration for the future of Sarawak and its people?
A : To continue to remain in Malaysia. It's better to be in a big nation. We can see problems in countries like Bangladesh, India and Pakistan and we need to instill the spirit of oneness in our country, and this can only be done through education and the school system.
We also need people here to understand the political workings of Kuala Lumpur and also the country. So far we've been doing very well.
-- BERNAMA
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