Sarawak DAP declines to support motion of appreciation for Taib

Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen said he and Pending assemblyman Violet Yong will not take part in the debate on a motion of appreciation for the late Taib Mahmud.

PETALING JAYA: DAP’s two assemblymen in the Sarawak state assembly will not support a motion of appreciation for the late former chief minister and governor Taib Mahmud.

Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen repeated his condolences to Taib’s family over his passing, but said he and Pending assemblyman Violet Yong would not take part in the debate on the motion.

“It is not in my character to speak ill of the dead. The late Taib may have contributed to the development of the state but there was also a cloud of suspicion over his administration when he was the chief minister.

“As such, I will not participate in the debate except to state my stand and that of my colleague, the Pending assemblyman, that we will not support this motion,” Chong, the Padungan assemblyman, said in a statement.

The motion of appreciation for Taib was tabled by Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg earlier today, seconded by his deputy Douglas Uggah Embas.

Taib died at a hospital in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 21. He was the longest serving head of a state government in Malaysia, leading the Sarawak government for 33 years from 1981 to 2014.

He was also the country’s second-longest serving MP, serving Kota Samarahan for 38 years from 1970 to 2008.

Taib had faced allegations of bribery and abuse of power, although authorities said they were unable to act on these due to a lack of proof.