Two among the three candidates to be chosen by Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud to replace him said today they will support whoever is finally selected to hold the post.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president Abang Johari Openg ( right ) when asked whether problems would arise when only one of the three potential candidates was chosen for the post, said there would be none as full power had been given to Taib to choose his successor.

"I will support whoever chosen by the chief minister, who is also PBB president. This is the basic point that was agreed upon yesterday," he said.

Abang Johari, who is also state housing and tourism minister, was met after attending a closed-door meeting between Taib and top state BN leaders as well as the three potential candidates for the CM post at the PBB headquarters in Kuching today.

Yesterday, the PBB supreme council and party's caucus agreed to give its full mandate and support to Taib in choosing his successor before he steps down.

Shocked at being named

Meanwhile, PBB senior vice-president Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said he was still shocked at being named as one of the three candidates to succeed Taib.

"But I wish to state here that I will support whoever is selected to hold the post.

"What is most important is for the chosen one to continue all the good things with the strong foundation already laid by the chief minister.

"The strong cooperation between the selected one and the other leaders also needs to continue," said Awang Tengah ( left ), who is the state industrial development minister and also second resource planning and environment minister.

The other possible successor to Taib, Adenan Satem, who is state special functions minister and PBB information chief, could not be interviewed for his comments as he left early after the closed-door meeting.

In Ipoh this afternoon, Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said any leadership required a process of regeneration in tandem with changes in the world, so that leaders could adapt to the new surrounding landscape, especially the political landscape.

"In the post-independence era, the leaders were seen to have a lot of power but in today's world, the people have a big voice.

"I believe that Taib's decision (to step down) is a good one, as he has done his duties and responsibilities," Husni ( right ) told reporters during the Tambun parliamentary constituency's Chinese New Year celebration in Chemor today.

Husni said over time, the nation, and Sarawak in particular, needed new leaders with new thinking, as they could no longer rely on the old ways to develop the country and state.

Sarawak already had a strong economic foundation, so he hoped its new leader would be more creative in initiatives to take the state's economy to greater heights.

- Bernama