Governor, wife pay their last respects to the late Kayan leader Tajang Laing

KUCHING, April 24 2026: Governor Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife Toh Puani Fauziah binti Mohd Sanusi this afternoon paid their last respects to the late prominent Kayan aristocrat and former state minister Tajang Laing at the family residence on Jalan Batu Lintang.

Caption: Governor and his wife (second from right) paying their last respects to the late Kayan leader Tajang Laing - Picture by Astana Negeri 

They were received the late's children, namely Lohong, Livan, Peing, and other family members including former Belaga State Legislative Member (SLM) Stanley Ajang and Senator Pele Peter Tinggom.

“We spent time chatting and giving words of moral support and encouragement to the family members to ease the burden of sadness over the passing of this respected figure,” the governor said in his Facebook post.

He descrived the late Tajang as a Sarawakian statesman who has made great contributions.

“The late Tajang was a former Sarawak cabinet minister during the era of the leadership of the first Chief Minister Stephen Kalong Ningkan and played a significant role in shaping the early administration of the state,” Wan Junaidi said.

Apart from his contributions in the cabinet, the late Tajang was also known as one of the important figures involved in the negotiations and matters related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“May the family members of the late Tajang be strong in the face of this trial and continue to persevere in going through difficult times, while maintaining the memory and noble legacy that the  late Tajang had left for the development of Sarawak,” the governor said.

Tajang, 100, died last night, Lohong announced in her Facebook post.