Taib Mahmud to announce retirement?

He is the longest serving chief minister, with an equally long list of adversaries and controversies. Accused of ruling with an iron fist, he is said to be more of a monarch than an elected representative of the people.

And while his political foes had tried in vain to unseat him, speculation is rife that Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud will be announcing his retirement soon.

According to a Berita Harian report today, the 78-year-old politician, who has been chief minister and president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera (PBB) for more than three decades, is expected to announce that he is stepping down at a party meeting on Saturday.

The report, which quoted a source, said the next day, the chief minister is scheduled to hold a special meeting with BN MPs and state assemblypersons.

However, it could not be confirmed if Taib will make the announcement at these meetings or wait for another date, predicted to be before the end of the month.

With his exit, the focus is now on who will replace him.

Berita Harian named several potential successors, including Adenan Satem, Abang Johari Openg and Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

Adenan, who is Taib's former brother-in-law, had served as federal minister of environment and natural resources from 2004-2006. He is now the state assemblyperson for Tanjung Datu.

Abang Johari is the third most senior leader in PBB and has grassroots support among the Malay and Bumiputera communities, the newspaper said. He is the state tourism minister.

Awang Tengah is largely known as Taib's right-hand man in political and administrative issues.

Berita Harian added that a possible fourth potential candidate may be Effendi Norwawi, also a former federal minister.

Taib had been previously quoted as saying that his successor must be respected by BN component parties, be loyal to PBB leaders and hold influence with Putrajaya.
         
The New Straits Times, which also reported on the pending resignation, questioned if Taib would be appointed as the new Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak.

The incumbent, Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng, 93, will end his tenure at the end of this month.  

Talk of Taib stepping down has been making the rounds since 2011 when the state election was held.

However, he has refused to set a date or name his successor.

Quizzed on the speculation, Taib's son, Mahmud Abu Bekir, replied: "I am not his press secretary."

Bekir was questioned by reporters shortly after Syariah court proceedings in Kuala Lumpur today.

His former first wife Shahnaz A Majid is seeking RM100 million as mutaah (gift) following their divorce in 2012.