Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud said his eldest son Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib does not need to wait for his blessings to contest in the Kota Samarahan parliamentary seat in the next general election.

NONE Taib, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president, said it was up to Bekir, currently Cahya Mata Sarawak (CMS) deputy chairman, to decide on his political future.

"He can serve in many capacities. I have no say in my children's careers but they need to work hard in the direction they choose and get to know the people more," he told reporters at the Aidilfitri open house of State Legislative Assembly Speaker Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar at Demak Height in Kuching last night.

Taib said he offered Bekir the opportunity to replace him as the Muara Tuang state assemblyman 10 years ago but he had rejected it.

"Well, let him change his mind and see how serious he is," he said when asked to comment on Bekir's recent statement that he was interested to replace his younger brother, Kota Samarahan member of parliament Sulaiman Taib, who had expressed his wish to step down.

Sulaiman will not defend his seat

NONE On Tuesday, Bekir, who has been a member of the PBB Kuching branch since he was 19, made known his intention when he said he had been interested always in politics but the chief minister had not indicated anything to him yet.   

Sulaiman is expected to be among several members of parliament of the PBB, principal partner of the state BN coalition, who would not be contesting in the 13th general election.

He was fielded in Kota Samarahan in the last general election, in 2008, in place of Taib. In that election, the PBB won all the 14 seats contested.

The other BN component parties won 15 seats, with six going to Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), five to the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) and four to the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).   

- Bernama