Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib, son of Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, is one name that is being mentioned within the elite Kuching Malay political circles as very likely to play a leading role in state politics when his father steps down.

Sulaiman 36, is executive chairperson of RHB Bank, one of Malaysia's 10 anchor banks. He currently holds no political party post.

However, the younger son of the chief minister has been speculated as the most likely candidate to take over as treasurer in Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) in September this year. Taib is PBB president.

The treasurer post, an appointed one, is currently held by Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, the state Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management and Minister of Public Utilities.

After helming the state for 24 years, Taib has expressed his intention to step down and is grooming younger leaders in the party to take over from him. But he has so far not given any indication of the time.

Sulaiman is also group chairperson of Sarawak-based public-listed Cahaya Mata Sarawak Berhad (CMSB).

A BA graduate with a degree in Business Administration from University of San Francisco, USA, Sulaiman is the younger brother of Mahmud Abu Bakir Taib, a director and major shareholder of CMSB in which the Taib family's company Majaharta Sdn Bhd holds a big stake.

Sulaiman's mother Laila Taib holds a substantial equity stake in CMSB.

To be party treasurer

Recently, local newspapers gave front-page treatment to news of Taib travelling together with Sulaiman in an official visit to China where Sulaiman signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese companies to study the feasibility of starting an aluminium smelter plant, a new hydro dam and a new deep-sea port in Sarawak. The signing was witnessed by Taib.

Many believed that Sulaiman is likely to be gradually introduced into politics, first by holding a party post which is likely to be decided at the party convention expected to held in Miri on September 15-17.

"No one can dispute his credentials in being appointed to the treasurer post which is seen as important for strengthening the party machinery and to prepare for the next state elections," a Malay political observer in Kuching said.

"Sulaiman could even be proposed as candidate as early as the next state election due by November 2006," he said, adding the constituency is either Muara Tuang, presently held by PBB senior vice-president and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Adenan Satem, or even Asajaya presently held by Abdul Karim Hamzah, lawyer cum political secretary to the chief minister.

In a recent interview, Taib said he would still lead the state BN at the next state elections which will use the new state constituency plan consisting of 71 state seats, an increase of 11 seats from the present, if the elections are held next year.

It is now thought that Taib will continue to remain in office at least for two more years after the next state elections, with sufficient time to groom up whoever he wants to take over from him as party leader and chief minister.

Political dynasty

In this day and age, when it is becoming increasingly common for middle-aged bankers and corporate figures to enter politics and hold important government posts, Sulaiman's name expectedly is being frequently mentioned even outside the paradigm of Malay politics in the state.

Some quarters within the local political circles have frequently mentioned the perpetuation of a political dynasty, which began with Tun Abdul Rahman Yakub, the first Melanau to become chief minister in Sarawak in 1970.

Taib who is Rahman's nephew took over as chief minister in 1981.

This, according to the family's critics, stems from the belief in what has been described as the Tugau Dynasty, a legendary Melanau king, in a paper that was written by Hang Tuah Marawin (presently Kapit Resident) and presented and discussed at a Melanau Cultural Symposium in the 1990s.

A book has also been published with Taib's tacit approval tracking Taib's family tree which described his late father as Pengiran Mahmud married to Wan Hamidah, who is still alive and elder sister of Tun Rahman.

Noted a political scientist: "Look at Singapore. Even Lee Kuan Yew (the island republic's founding prime minister) prepared for his son Hsien Loong to take over eventually as PM after Goh Chok Tong."

"There are several other similar instances of offsprings taking over. If Taib were to stand down immediately and Adenan, as the present favourite among those being groomed, were to take over, he could give way to Sulaiman eventually."

"In politics, anything is possible," he said. "Never discount family ties in any political succession plan."

Two years ago, Sulaiman was in the public eye for the wrong reason - for alleged assault on former television personality Avaa Vanja Ramli in a night joint in Kuala Lumpur.

When the case first came to light after Avaa lodged a police report on April 18, 2003, the then Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Dell Akbar Khan did not name Sulaiman as the "Dato' Sri" involved.

It was only after public pressure against the police to name the 'individual' involved that he was eventually identified.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.