“It was very emotional, he hugged almost everyone”; Some of the beneficiaries of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib’s atypical show of affection looked surprised and a few even seemed uncomfortable.

Updated: Tuesday February 11, 2014 MYT 9:25:25 AM

So, who will be the next CM?

BY JOCELINE TAN

Abang Johari (left) Adenan Satem

Tan Sri Taib Mahmud’s priority is to choose a successor who can lead the ruling coalition into the next state polls.

SARAWAK Chief Minister Tan Sri Taib Mahmud is not a touchy feely type of politician. As such, journalists were astonished to see the normally reserved leader throwing his arms around one person after another at the PBB supreme council meeting.

Moreover, these were full-bodied hugs – cheek-against-cheek and both arms flung around the other person. Some of the beneficiaries of Taib’s atypical show of affection looked surprised and a few even seemed uncomfortable.

“It was very emotional, he hugged almost everyone,” said a Kuching-based journalist.

As far as the journalist could recall, the last time Taib was seen embracing anyone in public was on the night of the Sarawak election two years ago. Even then, it was his gorgeous wife Ragad Kurdi Taib who did the hugging, wrapping her arms around his neck while Taib played it cool.

There were also tears from a few people. Some thought they were crocodile tears but it was all quite real because it was one of those end-of-an-era moments for those present.

Taib’s goodbye has begun. It has been 50 years in politics for him, of which 32 years were spent as the Chief Minister. He will be 78 in three months time and as he told close associates, he cannot see himself taking the oath of office at 80.

The PBB supreme council meeting on Saturday gave him the mandate to name his successor. The mandate also meant that he was free to set the timing of his own exit. The state Barisan Nasional council meeting the next day more or less confirmed the decision.

Taib’s imminent exit made front-page news for several days in all the newspapers. Surprisingly, it was the local Sarawak newspapers that did not play up the initial story because they believed that it was not going to happen. They had heard about Taib retiring too many times.

“Even till now, some people are sceptical whether he will step down. But I think he is ready because his party is at its most stable and the team he trained is now mature and prepared. He will also want to give the new man ample time to get ready for the next state election,” said the foremost authority on Sarawak politics Dr Jeniri Amir.

But it finally sank in last Saturday after the emotional PBB meeting – this time, it was for real.

Taib is widely expected to take over from Tun Muhammad Salahuddin as the next Governor. The Governor’s term expires on Feb 28 and any major announcement from Taib will revolve around that date. The joke is that the Governor is the most eager for Taib to retire, not because he wants Taib to go but because the Governor is 92 and is longing to call it a day.

The focus is now squarely on who will take over and the Machiavelli in Taib is still keeping everyone guessing till the very end.

Speculation had initially centred on three names – Datuk Abang Johari Tun Openg, 63, Tan Sri Adenan Satem, 69, and Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, 58. In fact, the three were almost falling over themselves to get up close with him during last weekend’s meetings.

But the race has narrowed down to two names – it will be either Abang Johari or Adenan.

Yesterday, a Malay daily boldly predicted on its front page: “Adenan KM baru Sarawak (Adenan the new CM of Sarawak)”. The prediction was premised on the claim that Taib had informed Adenan he is the chosen one when the latter joined the Chief Minister’s entourage to perform the umrah last month.

But the timing of the news report may also have to do with the arrival of Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein in Kuching yesterday to meet Taib for discussions in connection to the retirement move. The pair were there as emissaries of the Prime Minister.

Taib knows that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has an affinity for Abang Johari and some thought the report was Taib’s way of telling his federal counterparts that they had better play ball with him because he has options.

Taib’s instinct for survival cannot be under-estimated. Like most leaders who have over-stayed, he has accumulated more than his share of baggage and controversies and he is looking to a safe exit. At this point in time, the Federal Government needs him more than he needs them.

Back to the question of who after Taib.

Adenan’s edge is that he is trusted by Taib and his ex-wife, Aisah Zainab, is Taib’s younger sister. But unlike the other candidates, he is not in the pink of health. Adenan was out of action for several months last year after undergoing heart surgery and had been painfully thin and frail. But he seems to have recovered and is looking well again.

Abang Johari, or AJ as he is known, has enjoyed the distinction of not being linked to any scandal. As Dr Jeniri noted, Abang Johari has performed in every portfolio he was assigned to and is well-regarded by all communities, including the Chinese who have been very critical of the Taib administration.

Taib would want a smooth transition to the Governor’s office and a trouble-free time there. For that to happen, he needs to ensure that Sarawak stays with Barisan, with PBB playing the leading role in the state coalition.

As such, the man he picks must be capable of winning the support of Sarawakians in the state election due in 2016. The man must be acceptable to the majority, healthy and energetic enough to run the show, possess a good track record and, of course, he must be loyal and respectful to the man who picked him.

Even at the sunset of his career, Taib still calls the shots.