Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian lamented that Chief Minister Adenan Satem had “gone too soon” and left an “unfinished legacy”.

Speaking after attending the funeral of Adenan in Kuching today, the human rights lawyer said he had “something like seven meetings and encounters with Adenan over various issues since he became chief minister during which I found he was willing to listen.”

“I knew he had a heart problem but didn't think it would take him away this suddenly,” said Baru, the state assemblyperson for Ba’Kelalan.

Baru said he recalled Adenan’s invariable reference to him (Baru) as “My good friend” and said that while this is the standard courtesy one legislator extends to another, even one from the opposition, he felt that Adenan’s use of the term was redolent of affection more than propriety.

“This perception is bolstered by his willingness to listen when we in PKR and then jointly with DAP met him at various junctures to raise matters of public interest,” said Baru.

“He was willing to listen,” added the PKR leader.

“In one case at least, Adenan, after a meeting he granted me, actually took action on the matter I had raised,” said Baru.

Baru’s meetings with Adenan, who died of heart complications in Kuching yesterday afternoon, revolved around native customary rights issues and concerns over religious freedom.

“I felt he was serious about asserting the need to restore Sarawak’s rights under the 1963 Malaysia Agreement and that the state had helped form Malaysia as distinct to merely joining it,” remarked Baru.

“I’m concerned for his unfinished legacy which is mainly about restoring Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement,” he continued.

He said the campaign of restoration had met with a debilitating setback which is the death of its chief proponent.

“He’s gone too soon,” mourned Baru.