Adenan Satem will take over from Abdul Taib Mahmud as the Sarawak chief minister.
 
This was announced after Taib handed his resignation latter to Sarawak governor Abang Muhammad Salahuddin today. 
 
Taib's resignation will take effect from Feb 28 - the day the current governor's term ends.

The meeting with the governor lasted about an hour at Astana Negeri. He told reporters later that Adenan has the full backing of Sarawak BN to take over.

Taib was accompanied by PRS president James Masing, SPDP president William Mawan, PBB deputy chief Alfred Jabu Numpang and former SUPP Sibu branch leader Wong Soon Koh.

Notable absentees includes Adenan, Abang Johari Openg and Awang Tengah Ali Hassan. All three were said to be potential candidates for the CM post.

Another notable absentee is SUPP president Peter Chin. His spokesperson had told reporters that he was unwell and could not attend the ceremony.

Adenan is currently the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief and special adviser to the chief minister, with the status of a state cabinet minister.
 
He was formerly a lawyer and at one time was Taib's brother-in-law. He was once married to Taib's younger sister, Zainab Aisah .

Short political hiatus

Adenan resigned as federal natural resources minister in 2008 and went on a short political hiatus.

 
In 2011, he was fielded by PBB in the state elections, defending his seat of Tanjung Datu, which he won with a comfortable majority.
 
Adenan, 70, is believed to be suffering from heart complications.

He was one of three personalities thought likely to take over the chief minister position, along with PBB senior vice-president Awang Tengah Ali Hassan and party deputy president Abang Johari Openg.

There is speculation that Putrajaya is not in favour of Adenan taking over. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's visit to Kuching this evening has fuelled such speculations further.