PBB to hold special convention to honour Taib, Tok Nan and Jabu for their contributions to party and state

By Simon Peter

KUCHING, April 27, 2017 - PBB will hold  a special convention on May 6 to thank its three past leaders for their struggle for the party and the state, Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg announced today.

Chief Minister and PBB president Abang Johari Openg browsing through a party organ which publishes feature articles and interviews on the three past party leaders. Seen at left is Deputy Chief Minister and acting PBB deputy president Douglas Uggah and at right, PBB secretary general Dr Stephen Rundie Itom.

Abang Johari, who is PBB president, said the convention, to be held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), is expected to attended by about 5,500 grassroots leaders.

"We want to thank the three past leaders for their contribution in making the party strong and through PBB, they have contributed much to the state," he told reporters after chairing the party supreme council meeting here.

The three are the current Governor Abdul Taib Mahmud, the late chief minister Adenan Satem and former deputy chief minister Alfred Jabu Numpang.

Taib was PBB president and chief minister from 1981 until he retired from politics in 2014 to become the governor.

Adenan took over from Taib until his demise on Jan 11 this year.

Jabu was deputy chief minister from 1974 until he stepped down in last year's state election. He also stepped down early this year as PBB deputy president, the post he held from 1974.

Abang Johari said under Taib, PBB headquarters at Bako Road was built.

"He was also responsible for the development of Samarahan, from a backwater sub-district to an affluence area and has become a centre of learning in Sarawak," he said, referring to the presence of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Universiti Teknologi Mara and Tun Razak Teachers' Institute.

Abang Johari said Taib was also the man behind the development of Sarawak Corridor of Renewal Energy (Score) that aimed to attract investment from multi-national corporations.

"The list of his contributions to PBB and Sarawak is long," he said.

 Abang Johari said Adenan, within a short period, had introduced a number of measures to mitigate poverty by reducing electricity tariff, abolishing toll charges and reducing ferry fees to just RM1 per trip per person.

"He is also remembered for declaring war on illegal loggers, stopping and cancelling the issuance of logging licences on state land and fighting for the return of Sarawak's rights from the federal government," he said.

Abang Johari said Adenan's policies, like the recognition given to Unified Examination Certificate from Chinese school, were people-centric that helped to secure 72 out 82 seats in the last state election.

Abang Johari said Jabu was best remembered for his passionate towards the development of the rural areas.

"He had visited even the remotest part of Sarawak, creating awareness on the importance of knowledge and education to the rural communities," he said.