Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu wants speculation that he would be the likely successor to the Chief Minister Abdul Taib to be stopped immediately.

"At this point in time, replacement and succession of the Sarawak chief minister should not arise and should not be speculated upon," Jabu, who is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy-president, said in a statement today.

"I have consistently and publicly said that I have full confidence in the very capable, fair, competent and visionary leadership of Abdul Taib as Sarawak chief minister, and fully support his continued leadership as chief minister," he said, adding that he was fully committed to work as a team player in PBB and Barisan Nasional (BN).

Yesterday, former chief minister Abdul Rahman Yakub had named Jabu as the most probable successor to Abdul Taib based on Jabu's position in the party and that he was widely accepted by all races in the state.

Rahman, who was the third Sarawak chief minister, was quoted as saying yesterday in the English tabloid that although he saw Jabu as the most suitable successor to Abdul Taib, his nephew, it was up to the PBB to have a final say on the succession issue.

- Bernama