Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah today presented Abdul Taib Mahmud with the instrument of appointment as the new Yang di-Pertua Negri of Sarawak at the Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur.

The ceremony took place at the Small Throne Hall and was witnessed by Prime Minister Najib Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and the new Sarawak Chief Minister, Adenan Satem.

Abdul Taib - who stepped down as the Sarawak CM effective today after almost 33 years in office - takes office tomorrow as the seventh Yang di-Pertua Negri of Sarawak, succeeding Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng whose term of office ended today.

He was the fourth chief minister of Sarawak, having assumed the office on March 26, 1981, by succeeding his uncle Abdul Rahman Ya'kub.

The eldest of 10 siblings, Abdul Taib was born on May 21, 1936, to Mahmud Abang Yahya and Hamidah Ya'kub.

Abdul Taib worked as a judge's associate in the Supreme Court of South Australia after having completed his law studies at the University of Adelaide, before returning to Sarawak.

 

He entered the world of politics in 1963 when he joined the Sarawak Legislative Council and served until 1966.

 

He was appointed Sarawak minister for communication and works in 1963 and served in that capacity until 1966 when he was appointed as the minister of development and forestry. 

Abdul Taib entered politics at the federal level after he won the

parliamentary seat of Samarahan in the 1970 parliamentary election.