Though Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud has announced that he will step down after the state election, the issue seems to remain political taboo as a potential successor was tight-lipped about the details of the succession plan.

Asked by reporters this morning in Lingga, PBB deputy president Abang Johari Abang Openg opted for a safe answer.

NONE "(Taib) had already stated the transition will be smooth", he said, refusing to elaborate.

"When the time comes, I will tell you. (But), it will be a smooth transition."

Abang Johari ( right ), more widely known as Abang Jo, was tipped as  one of the favourite successors, but he clearly did not want to be tagged as such.

"No need (to talk about me as the favourite candidate for chief minister). What we want is to win the election first."

Sarawak BN is facing one of its toughest battles in this state election, with pressure mounting on Taib, who had led the state for 30 years to step down, especially from the Chinese community.

However, the chief minister has only announced that he will bow out during the mid-term period after this election, refusing to give a clear deadline.

Opposition contributes to successors' muteness

This prompted the opposition to accuse Taib of not being willing to give up office and urging Sarawakians to vote the BN out.

Abang Johari, who is the state housing and city development minister, and another PBB leader Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, who is second planning and resource management minister, are seen as potential successors.

But, so far, both these leaders have chosen to tread carefully so as not to be seen as being too ambitious for the highest post.

Before today's press conference, Abang Johari told a group of 150 Lingga villagers that the BN was grooming new blood to take over from Taib and other veteran leaders.

He hoped the people would lend their support to these new leaders, especially to the 10 fresh faces the PBB is fielding in this state election.

"Pehin Sri (Taib Mahmud) will step down, God willing, the party will have a group of young people to take over."

Windfall for the poor in constituency

Abang Johari said this at a ground-breaking ceremony in Lingga to launch the "people friendly house" programme (RMR).

NONE Under the first phase of the programme, the state-owned Housing Development Corporation will build 15 single-storey low cost houses in Lingga, which cost RM70,000 each, for poor families. A unit is about 700sq-ft in area, with three rooms and two bathrooms.

According to Abang Johari, the house owners need only pay two-thirds of the construction cost, with the balance subsidised by the government. The monthly instalment is RM210 to RM240, including the premium on the land.

"Even you buy a Proton Saga or Kancil, you will have to pay RM300 a month. But for this house, you only need to pay slightly more than RM200. This shows our friendliness."

He also revealed that the federal government had approved RM85 million for upgrading the road from Lingga to Sri Aman and hoped that local voters would continue to support PBB incumbent Simoi Peri.

Simoi, who won the last election with a majority of 1,870 votes, is now facing a three-cornered fight in the Malay majority rural area.

His two opponents are Abang Othman Abang Gom (SNAP) and Abang Ahmad Arabi Abang Bolhassan (PKR).