KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 18 — Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has reportedly married a Lebanese, said to be former flight attendant, causing concern among allies who want him focused on the looming state elections.
Umno’s Utusan Malaysia and political sources said the 74-year-old widower’s private wedding was officiated by Sarawak Mufti Kipli Yassin. The wedding reception is scheduled for tonight, the newspaper reported.
“Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders are concerned as it can impact preparations for the state polls,” a source told The Malaysian Insider.
It is understood the wedding could delay preparations for the polls which must be held by next July. Abdul Taib has said he will lead the campaign in the next state polls.
Asked to comment on the reported marriage after a dinner and dialogue with Chinese associations last night, the newspaper quoted the chief minister as saying: “Not yet, not yet.”
Pressed further, he said: “Tonight, we concentrate on the issues of the community.”
Speculation on his marital status began a couple of days ago. Then, high-ranking state officials also refused to comment.
Abdul Taib’s wife Puan Sri Laila Taib died of cancer in April 2009. They had been married since 1959 and have four children — Jamilah, Mahmud Abu Bekir, Sulaiman Abdul Rahman and Hanifah apart from 15 grandchildren.
There were rumours previously that Abdul Taib had married the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee’s daughter Dian P. Ramlee but she had denied it. The Sarawak leader is a great fan of the Malaysian icon.
Abdul Taib has been chief minister since March 1981 and his party, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), remains strong but ally Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) has lost most major urban seats — including Sibu most recently — to the DAP.
In the Sibu campaign, Abdul Taib was kept out for most of the campaign because of his waning popularity amid abuse-of-power allegations.
Despite this, the DAP took the seat with a slim majority following a major swing that has given BN cause for concern.
Sarawak has long been seen as a “fixed deposit state” by the ruling coalition.
The DAP is the biggest opposition party in Sarawak and is expected to put up a serious challenge in the next state polls.
