Abdul Taib Mahmud

Abdul Taib bin Mahmud was a Malaysian politician. He served as the seventh Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak from 2014 to 2024. He was also the fourth Chief Minister of the state from 1981 to 2014. His tenure earned him the distinction of being the longest-serving head of government in a Malaysian state. Taib died just over 3 weeks after leaving office. He is referred to as the Father of Modern SarawAK (Bapa Pemodenan Sarawaka). He was the eldest child of Mahmud bin Haji Abang Yahya (father) and Hajjah Hamidah binti Yakub (mother). Taib had nine siblings namely Ibrahim, Onn, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Arip, Mohammad Tufail, Aisah Zainab, Roziah, Faridah Hanon and Zaleha Hanon. His father was a descendant of Pehinu Yahya Raja, an aristocrat that was linked to the Royal Court of Brunei. However, his father had an impoverished life because his father worked as a carpenter.