Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud's move to announce a major state cabinet reshuffle on July 1 could be to pave the way for him to step down eventually, with some quarters even suggesting it could happen "quite soon".

Seasoned political observers told malaysiakini that they expect Taib, who has been chief minister since 1981, to bring in his key party supporters into major ministerial positions such as finance, land, forestry, industrial development and agriculture.

Taib had announced after the March parliamentary elections that he would carry out a minor reshuffle to fill up positions vacated by the resignations of one full minister and one assistant minister as well as another post with the impending resignation of a second assistant minister.

Adenan Satem resigned as state minister to take up the federal post of Natural Resources and Environment Minister and Assistant Minister Joseph Entulu also resigned to become deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

Another assistant minister Wahab Dolah has expressed his desire to go back to active business.

Yesterday, in his winding-up speech in the state legislative assembly, Taib announced that there would be major cabinet changes in a week's time, describing it as "a major mid-term reshuffling involving all ministries."

To give fresh start

The state has eleven full ministers, including the chief minister, and 14 assistant ministers.

Taib's explanation for carrying out a major reshuffle was that he wanted "to give a fresh start to prepare for the implementation of the next Malaysia Development Plan".

Political observers, however, say there is more to it than that, as there is talk that some major political developments expected within the next few months could be linked to the expiry in December this year of the present governor's term.

Taib has repeatedly said publicly that he will step down as chief minister when he has completed his mission and when he thinks he has groomed the right people to take over.

Adenan, who is Taib's Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) senior vice president, is often mentioned as Taib's likely successor, although he may have to compete for the job with deputy president and Tourism Minister Abang Johari Tun Openg, often seen as a dynamic Malay leader and minister.

Taib is known to have indicated his preference among several elected representatives from his own party as well as other component parties of the state BN.

Johari is one of the two PBB deputy presidents. The other one is Alfred Jabu, an Iban, who is one of Sarawak's two deputy chief ministers.

There is talk that Jabu, who has been a state minister since 1974, may leave the cabinet too to take up another important government post. His wife Empiang Jabu, Sarawak's first Iban woman graduate, was elected Senator during the recent sitting of the state legislative assembly.

Johari is tipped to move over to the state agriculture and food industries ministry, vacated by Adenan Satem.

This son of Sarawak's post-independence governor the late Tun Abang Haji Openg is known as a hard-working, intelligent and effective minister.

Johari's strong support

Johari is sometimes seen as being marginalized within the party, but observers say he is not to be written off because of the strong support and respect he still commands from the Malay community, especially in Kuching.

Among his strongest supporters are Assistant Minister Sharifah Mordiah, the PBB Wanita leader and Assistant Minister of Housing Dr Abang Haji Abdul Rauf.

One name often mentioned as the most likely to be elevated to full minister is Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Awang Tengah Ali Hassan. This PBB treasurer wields considerable influence in both government and party and is known to be one of Taib's confidantes.

State Assembly Speaker Asfia Nassar, a lawyer by training, has also been mentioned as a possible candidate for full minister. His term as speaker ends this year.

At least three names from PBB have been mentioned to replace Wahab Dolah, the Matu-Daro state assemblyperson, as assistant minister when he leaves.

The three are Jepak state assemblyperson Talip Zulpilip, Dalat state assemblyperson Fatimah Abdullah and Tutong state assemblyperson Daud Abdul Rahman.

PBDS and Supp nominees

There is a big question on who Taib will choose from among the names he has received for the assistant minister post vacated by Entulu of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS).

The two rival factions have submitted different names.

The Masing faction favours Pelagus state assemblyperson Larry Sng, son of former PBDS vice president Sng Chee Hua. At 23, Larry is Malaysia's youngest elected representative.

The Tajem faction wants PBDS secretary-general Stanley Ajang, a Kayan who is Belaga state assemblyperson and PBDS vice president Gabriel Adit, who is Ngemah state assemblyperson.

Two PBDS state assemblypersons may be in running for the state assembly deputy speaker's post - Adit and John Sikie who is aligned to the Masing faction.

Talk is that an assistant minister from Sarawak United People's Party (Supp) Alfred Yap will be promoted to a full minister.

For the rest of the ministers and assistant ministers, it is expected there they will swap ministries or take charge of new ministries.

Observers are saying that it is quite obvious that Taib will want to put his supporters in key positions in the cabinet as this could be a prelude to his exit from politics.