Artikel 153 by Raja Petra Kamaruddin

Article 153 of Malaysia’s Federal Constitution

Raja Petra KamarudinUmno Youth, in its recent Annual General Assembly, has asked the government to continue with the New Economic Policy (NEP) until such a time that the aspirations of this policy are met. The NEP, which was launched in 1970 after the infamous race riots of May 1969, was supposed to run for 20 years. By the end of the NEP in 1990 though, the 30% target set for the Bumiputera share of the economic pie fell far short, forcing the government to introduce a new policy that was basically the NEP in another form.Umno, the ‘trustee’ of the NEP, is now spearheading the ‘fight’ to elevate the lot of the Bumiputera community in the spirit of its Ketuanan Melayu struggle. But what is the status of the NEP and Ketuanan Melayu viz-a-viz Malaysia’s Federal Constitution? In the first place, are the NEP and Ketuanan Melayu constitutional?Most people have the impression that the NEP was a fast-track policy conjured in a hurry to address a critical problem facing the country then; race riots and the dissatisfaction of the Malay community with regards to the country’s economy being practically monopolised by the Chinese. They also think that the policy is meant only to address the economic problems faced by the Malays.Actually, the NEP is a two-prong ‘weapon’. First, it was to address the disparity between the different races -- and this would include the Indians and all the minority ethnicities or natives of Sabah and Sarawak as well. Second, it was to address the gap between the haves and the have-nots -- and this would mean Chinese at the bottom rung of the economic ladder as well (as not all Chinese are millionaires and there are also Chinese who are poor or destitute).The truth is, the NEP is not ‘new’; meaning, created only in 1970. For all intents and purposes, the NEP, though it was never called that in the beginning, was always with us and was part of the Merdeka ‘package’, in that it had been written into Malaysia’s Federal Constitution. Therefore, whether one likes it or not, the NEP was something agreed by all races even before Malaya gained independence in 1957. The only thing is, it was never given any name (NEP) and was not aggressively implemented until 13 years after Merdeka.Well, before you start debating this issue, maybe you should read what Article 153 of the Federal Constitution has to say about this matter.Article 153 of the Malaysian ConstitutionArticle 153 - Reservation of quotas in respect of services, permits, etc., for Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak.
(1) It shall be the responsibility of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other communities in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

(2) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, but subject to the provisions of Article 40 (note below) and of this Article, the Yang di Pertuan Agong shall exercise his functions under this Constitution and federal law in such manner as may be necessary to safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and to ensure the reservation for Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak of such proportion as he may deem reasonable of positions in the public service (other than the public service of a State) and of scholarships, exhibitions and other similar educational or training privileges or special facilities given or accorded by the Federal Government and, when any permit or licence for the operation of any trade or business is required by federal law, then, subject to the provisions of that law and this Article, of such permits and licences. (NB: Article 40 of the Constitution provides that the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong is to act on advice of the Cabinet.)

(3) The Yang di-Pertuan Agong may, in order to ensure in accordance with Clause (2) the reservation to Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak of positions in the public service and of scholarships, exhibitions and other educational or training privileges or special facilities, give such general directions as may be required for that purpose to any Commission to which Part X applies or to any authority charged with responsibility for the grant of such scholarships, exhibitions or other educational or training privileges or special facilities; and the Commission or authority shall duly comply with the directions. (NB: Part X is the provision with regard to Public Services.)

(4) In exercising his functions under this Constitution and federal law in accordance with Clauses (1) to (3) the yang di-Pertuan Agong shall not deprive any person of any public office held by him or of the continuance of any scholarship, exhibition or other educational or training privileges or special facilities enjoyed by him.

(5) This Article does not derogate from the provisions of Article 136 (note below). (Article 136 provides: All persons of whatever race in the same grade in the service of the Federation shall, subject to the terms and conditions of their employment, be treated impartially.)

(6) Where by existing federal law a permit or licence is required for the operation of any trade or business the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may exercise his functions under that law in such manner, or give such general directions to any authority charged under that law with the grant of such permits or licences, as may be required to ensure the reservation of such proportion of such permits or licences for Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may deem reasonable; and the authority shall duly comply with the directions.

(7) Nothing in this Article shall operate to deprive or authorize the deprivation of any person of any right, privilege, permit or licence accrued to or enjoyed or held by him or to authorize a refusal to renew to any person any such permit or licence or a refusal to grant to the heirs, successors or assigns of a person any permit or licence when the renewal or grant might reasonably be expected in the ordinary course of events.

(8) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, where by any federal law any permit or licence is required for the operation of any trade or business, that law may provide for the reservation of a proportion of such permits or licences for Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak; but no such law shall for the purpose of ensuring such a reservation:
(a) deprive or authorize the deprivation of any person of any right, privilege, permit or licence accrued to or enjoyed or held by him; or
(b) authorise a refusal to renew to any person any such permit or licence or a refusal to grant to the heirs, successors or assigns of any person any permit or licence when the renewal or grant might in accordance with the other provisions of the law reasonably be expected in the ordinary course of events, or prevent any person from transferring together with his business any transferable licence to operate that business; or
(c) where no permit or licence was previously required for the operation of the trade or business, authorize a refusal to grant a permit or licence to any person for the operation of any trade or business which immediately before the coming into force of the law he had been bona fide carrying on, or authorize a refusal subsequently to renew to any such person any permit or licence, or a refusal to grant to the heirs, successors or assigns of any such person any such permit or licence when the renewal or grant might in accordance with the order provisions of that law reasonably be expected in the ordinary course of events.

(8A) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, where in any University, College and other educational institution providing education after Malaysian Certificate of Education or its equivalent, the number of places offered by the authority responsible for the management of the University, College or such educational institution to candidates for any course of study is less than the number of candidates qualified for such places, it shall be lawful for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong by virtue of this Article to give such directions to the authority as may be required to ensure the reservation of such proportion of such places for Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may deem reasonable; and the authority shall duly comply with the directions.

(9) Nothing in this Article shall empower Parliament to restrict business or trade solely for the purpose of reservations for Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak.(9A) In this Article the expression 'natives' in relation to the State of Sabah or Sarawak shall have the meaning assigned to it in Article 161A (already repealed).

(10) The Constitution of the State of any Ruler may make provision corresponding (with the necessary modifications) to the provisions of this Article. The abovementioned provision is very clear on the following points:
(1) The scope of the reservation of quotas is only with respect to positions in public service, scholarships, exhibitions and other similar educational or training privileges or special facilities given or accorded by the Federal Government.
(2) The quotas reserved must be reasonable and the reservation of permits and licences for Malays and natives must be of such proportion as may be deemed reasonable.
(3) The special reservation of quotas must not affect the rights of other communities. Apart from the provisions allowed under the abovementioned Article 153, all citizens of Malaysia must be treated as equal. This is clearly provided for under Article 8 of the Federal Constitution. Article 8(1) All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law.
(2) Except as expressly authorized by this Constitution, there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent or place of birth in any law or in the appointment to any office or employment under a public authority or in the administration of any law relating to the acquisition, holding or disposition of property or the establishing or carrying on of any trade, business, profession, vocation or employment.
(3) There shall be no discrimination in favour of any person on the ground that he is a subject of the Ruler of any State.
(4) No public authority shall discriminate against any person on the ground that he is resident or carrying on business in any part of the Federation outside the jurisdiction of the authority.
(5) This Article does not invalidate personal law;
(a) any provision regulating personal law;
(b) any provision or practice restricting office or employment connected with the affairs of any religion, or of an institution managed by a group professing any religion, to persons professing that religion;
(c) any provision for the protection, well-being or advancement of the aboriginal peoples of the Malay Peninsula (including the reservation of land) or the reservation to aborigines of a reasonable proporation of suitable positions in the public service;
(d) any provision prescribing residence in a State or part of a State as a qualification for election or appointment to any authority having jurisdiction only in that State or part, or for voting in such an election;
(e) any provision of a Constitution of a State, being or corresponding to a provision in force immediately before Merdeka Day;
(f) any provision restricting enlistment in the Malay Regiment to Malays

Political Humour

NAME:Datuk Hajah Sharifah Mordiah Tuanku HJ Fauzi

ADDRESS:93, Lorong Diplomatik 1,Jalan Stadium,93050 Kuching Sarawak.

DATE OF BIRTH:2nd March 1948

PLACE OF BIRTH :Kuching

MARITAL STATUS :Married

FAMILY DETAIL

HUSBAND NAME :Tuan Haji Sayeed Aman Ghazali Bin Haji Sayeed Junaidi

OCCUPATION :Pensioner (Former Senior Assistant Director of Post, Sarawak )

CHILDREN:5 Girls
1. Sharifah Rehanah
-Assistant Administrative Officer
-Married with 3 children

2. Sharifah Hasidah
-Lawyer
-Married with 3 children

3. Sharifah Rodziah
- Accountant
- Married with 1 children

4. Sharifah Azizah
- Director
- Single

5. Sharifah Noraini
- 3rd Year Student In Information System
- Single

FATHER:Tuanku Haji Fauzi Bin Tuanku Haji Othman An Imam and Religious educated in 1956 till his death in 1975

MOTHER:Hajah Sharifah Hasidah Bt Tuanku Haji Manshor. A former teacher and was involved in the protest Rajah Rule to British Colony. She was 338 teacher & civil in 1946.

CURRENT POLITICAL PORTFOLIO:Chairman Party Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu Sarawak (Women Wing ) since 1987
Assistant Minister of Social Development & Urbanisation, Sarawak

POLITICAL & SOCIAL CAREER AND ACHIEVEMENT:
Involved in Politics since 1963 till now

Members of Council Negeri – 1979-1981

Political Secretary- 1981-1987

Chairman of Women Wing Party PBB 1987 & appointed as Assistant Minister from the same year beside that she was appointed Vice President of Party Sarawak

Uncontested in general election for 3 terms

Achievement- Maintain teacher of Women in Politic since 1987

INVOLVED IN NGO SUCH AS

:
- Chairman of Pemadam Negeri
- Vice President of National Pemadam 1988
- Vice Chairman of Perkim Kebangsaan and Sarawak
- Chairman of Majlis Pembangunan Wanita & Keluarga
- Chairman of Pergerakan Putri Islam Sarawak
- Chairman of Koperasi Wanita Sarawak
- Chairman of Majlis Kanak-kanak Sarawak
- Chairman of Barisan Nasional Sarawak
- Ajk Barisan Nasional Sarawak
- Awarded Johan Bintang Sarawak
- Awarded PGBK which carries the title of Datuk 1992

PERSONAL VALUES

:
(i) Leadership Quality
(ii) Helpful and Approachable to all
(iii) Grassroot Leader
(iv) A profound religious and family background
(v) Stick to my Principal and strong commitment to my duty, family, religious and society as a whole
(vi) Faithful and dedicated to political party and leader
(vii) Open-minded
(viii) Statisfied

ELECTION WRITE-UP

:
1. To have an improve and balanced development in terms of infrastructure and the society.

2. Achievement since September 2001

3. Major obstacle

4. My plans are:

- To bring in more business and to assist those who want to venture into business with the training, infrastructure, loan facilities etc.

- To ensure basic facilities are available in all the rural areas in my constituency

- Education facilities are upgraded and accessible to all. Providing the avenue for assistance to ensure children education will not be compromised due to financial constraint

- For the women, particularly the single mothers there are activities (e.g. training, forum, seminars and to boost their income being conducted in collaboration with NGOs and other government agencies. Financial aid also in term if machine and equipment in assisting them to start a small business on their own.

5. I have other future plans for the people in my constituency. I have been a Wakil Rakyat for 15 years and I have proven track record.

6. The effect the rapid development of ICT and globalization are indeed huge and this has to be addressed with high priority. Again education plays a vital role.Facilities in term of infrastructure and resource need to be made available. I have been working closely with government agencies and will continue to do so to ensure that the facilities are made available in my constituency.

Sejarah PBB

PBB Sepintas Lalu
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) pada asalnya ditubuhkan daripada percantuman tiga buah parti di Sarawak iaitu Parti Negara Sarawak (PANAS), Barisan Rakyat Jati Sarawak (BARJASA) dan Parti Pesaka Anak Sarawak (PESAKA).
Percantuman ini adalah berdasarkan perjuangan untuk meningkatkan kehidupan dan membela nasib kaum Bumiputera dalam pelbagai bidang termasuk politik, ekonomi dan sosial.
Sejarah awal penubuhan PBB adalah atas ilham dan inisiatif Setiausaha Agung BARJASA yang muda dan idealistik ketika itu iaitu Ketua Menteri dan Presiden PBB sekarang, iaitu Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud.
PANAS merupakan parti politik kedua ditubuhkan di Sarawak pada 9 April 1960. Ia diasaskan oleh Datu Bandar Abang Haji Mustapha kira-kira 10 bulan selepas Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak (SUPP), parti politik pertama di Sarawak didaftarkan.
Pada peringkat permulaannya, parti ini tidak mendapat sokongan yang menggalakkan daripada orang Melayu sendiri tetapi selepas dua tahun, PANAS mula diterima apabila seramai 62,795 ahli menganggotainya.
Ketika itu PANAS sudah menubuhkan 65 cawangan di seluruh negeri dan dianggotai kira-kira 20,000 orang Melayu, 20,000 suku kaum Iban, 10,000 suku kaum Bidayuh termasuk beratus orang lain daripada kaum Cina.
Setelah pendaftaran PANAS diluluskan secara rasmi pada 9 April 1960, Datu Bandar Abang Haji Mustapha dilantik sebagai Pengerusi dan adiknya Abang Othman dilantik sebagai Setiausaha Agung. Abang Othman meletakkan jawatan sebagai Timbalan Penguasa Polis untuk sama-sama mengasaskan parti tersebut.
PANAS mendukung tujuan melindungi, memelihara dan memajukan kepentingan politik, pelajaran, keagamaan, ekonomi, sosial dan kebudayaan rakyat seluruh negeri khasnya bumiputera.
Diantara tokoh yang menjadi tulang belakang PANAS ialah seperti Tan Sri Datuk Ikhwan Zaini selaku Ahli Majlis Tertinggi, Naib-Naib Pengerusi ialah William Tan, Edward Jerah dan Austin Jaya.
Manakala Penolong Setiausaha Agung disandang oleh Lo Foot Kee dan Andrew Landau. Bendahari pula ialah Tan Tsak Yu dan penolongnya Leong Ho Yuen. Ahli-Ahli Jawatankuasa terdiri daripada Penghulu Haji Dol Osman, Abong Taib, Jalel Ubong, Stephen Harry, Edward Menlis, Sim Peng Cho, Chin Poh Luke dan Ngui Ah Sin.
BARJASA ditubuhkan pada Disember 1961 sebagai alternatif kepada masyarakat Islam dan mendapat sokongan kuat daripada orang Melayu dan suku kaum Melanau daripada bahagian Sri Aman dan Sibu. Ia dipengerusikan oleh Tuanku Haji Bujang dan Encik Alfred Unteng Mason selaku Setiausaha Agung.
Penyertaan keahlian kebanyakannya daripada golongan muda yang berpelajaran. Diantara mereka ialah Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Beliau adalah diantara beberapa tokoh yang memainkan peranan dibelakang tabir BARJASA untuk menggerakkan jentera parti.
PESAKA atau dikenali juga sebagai PAPAS ditubuhkan pada Julai 1962 dan merupakan parti kedua kaum Iban selepas Parti Kebangsaan Sarawak (SNAP) didaftarkan pada Mac 1961. Ia ditubuhkan untuk menentang SNAP yang mendapat sokongan kuat daripada kaum Iban Sibu.
Tun Jugah yang dulunya menganggotai PANAS meninggalkan parti tersebut untuk bersama-sama empat orang pemimpin daripada kaumnya iaitu dari Sibu mengasaskan PESAKA.
Sebelum pilihanraya negeri yang pertama pada Januari 1963, BARJASA, SNAP, PESAKA dan SCA (Persatuan Cina Sarawak) membentuk sebuah Parti Perikatan pada Julai 1962. Ia dipengerusikan oleh Tun Jugah dan Datuk Stephen Kalong Ningkan sebagai Setiausaha Agung.
Walau bagaimanapun PANAS menarik diri daripada Perikatan menjelang pengundian untuk menyertai parti pembangkang iaitu SUPP.
Selepas pilihanraya, Parti Perikatan ternyata mendapat keputusan yang menyakinkan dan membentuk Kabinet Negeri yang pertama dan Datuk Kalong Ningkan dilantik menjadi Ketua Menteri pertama manakala Tun Jugah dilantik menganggotai Kabinet Persekutuan di Kuala Lumpur selaku Menteri Hal Ehwal Sarawak.
Diantara tahun 1963 dan 1966, politik Sarawak mengalami pergolakan yang hebat disebabkan terlalu banyak parti politik sehingga mencetuskan krisis demi krisis yang sesetengahnya berbau perkauman. Krisis ini akhirnya tamat dengan pengyingkiran Datuk Ningkan sebagai Presiden SNAP.
Menggantikan tempat Datuk Ningkan sebagai Ketua Menteri baru ketika itu ialah Penghulu Tawi Seli. Didalam kabinetnya mempunyai tiga orang ahli PESAKA termasuk beliau sendiri, dua ahli BARJASA termasuk Datuk Patinggi Taib dan seorang ahli PANAS. PANAS menyertai semula perikatan hanya sebelum pengyingkiran Datuk Ningkan.
Sarawak mencapai satu satu lagi kemajuan didalam politik apabila BARJASA dan PANAS bercantum membentuk Parti Bumiputera dalam bulan Mac 1968. Datuk Patinggi Taib menjadi penggerak utama kearah percantuman itu.
Parti Bumiputera diketuai oleh Allahyarham Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abang Ikhwan Zaini dengan Datuk Taib memegang jawatan Setiausaha Agung.
Kekuatan parti dan perpaduan terus diperkukuh apabila Parti BUMIPUTERA dan PESAKA bercantum melahirkan Parti PBB pada 30 April 1973.
Tun Jugah yang pada ketika itu selaku Menteri Hal Ehwal Sarawak telah dilantik sebagai Presiden pertama PBB.
Datuk Patinggi Taib memegang jawatan Presiden PBB secara automatik apabila memenangi jawatan Presiden tanpa bertanding pada 1981 sehingga sekarang.
Kewujudan parti ini sebagai satu komponen terbesar dalam Barisan Nasional Negeri telah mengukuhkan lagi kedudukan Bumiputera.
Sejak penubuhannya, keahlian PBB telah meningkat dengan banyaknya sehingga kini dalam 56 Bahagian, ahli-ahli telah menjangkau 300,000 orang dengan lebih 1,000 cawangan di seluruh negeri. Ia disokong penuh oleh kaum Bumiputera terutama golongan Melayu-Melanau, Iban, Bidayuh dan Orang Ulu.

Adenan Satem : Kenali dirinya oohaaa...yb yang terpinggir

NAME
:
YB Dato' Sri Haji Adenan Haji Satem, PNBS,JBS

ADDRESS
:
Office of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment
11th Floor,
Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment,
Wisma Tanah, Jalan Semarak,
54000 Kuala Lumpur.

DATE OF BIRTH
:
27th January 1944

PLACE OF BIRTH
:
Kuching

MARITAL STATUS
:
Married with 5 children

HOBBIES
:
Golfing, Fishing, Reading, Singing, Hunting, Writing and Amateur Historian

EDUCATION BACKGROUND
:
LLB University of Adelaide

WORKING EXPERIENCES
:
Prosecutor, Crow Law Office, Adelaide ( 1969 - 1970)

Magistrate (1971-1972)

Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Primary Industries Malaysia ( 1972-1974)

Private Legal Practitioner (1975-1985)

Member of State Legislative Assembly (From 1978 till now )

Assistant Minister for Land Development Sarawak (12th July 1985 - 12th March 1987)

Minister for Land Development Sarawak (12th March 1987 - September 1992)

Minister for Social Development Sarawak ( September 1992 - January 1998 )

Minister for Agriculture and Food Industries Sarawak ( 2nd January 1998 - 29th March 2004 )

Malaysia Minister for Natural Resources and Environment (31st March 2004 till now)

Chairman of Yayasan Sarawak ( January 1999 till now )

AWARD
:
Johan Bintang Sarawak (JBS)-7th July 1986 on TYT’s Birthday

Pingat Peringatan Bakti (Silver) (PBB) - 31st August 1988 In conjunction with the 25th Anniversary of Sarawak’s Independences within Malaysia

Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak (PNBS)-16th Sept 1990

Pingat Peringatan Delima (Gold) (PPD)-22ND July 2003 In conjunction with the 40th. Anniversary of Sarawak’s Independence within Malaysia

Children
:
Siti Rafidah Adenan (16th May 1966)

Hayati Hamidah Adenan (19th April 1970)

Abdul Aziz Adenan (31st May 1972)

Aziza Jasmi Adenan (15th December 1983)

Azizul Annuar Adenan (4th August 1991)

President PBB: BUkan Bangsa Bangsa bersatu Tapi Parti pesaka bumiputera bersatu.

Biodata of the President of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB)

The Early Years
The Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (DR) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud was born on May 21, 1936 in Miri, Sarawak. He received his early education at St. Joseph's School, Miri and his secondary education in St Joseph's School, Kuching. He graduated with an LLB in 1960 from the University of Adelaide, South Australia. In 1964, he attended a Harvard International Seminar.
Political Career
He was appointed Crown Council from 1962 to 1963. In 1963, he was appointed a member of the State Legislative Council until 1968. In 1963, he became State Minister for Communications and Works and from 1966 to 1967 he was Minister for Development and Forestry. On several occasions, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (DR) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud acted as Chief Minister.In 1968, he was appointed Federal Assistant Minister for Commerce and Industry until 1970 when he became Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Deputy Minister of Works, Telecommunications and Posts after winning the Parliamentary seat for Samarahan constituency in Sarawak. In 1972, he was appointed the Natural Resources Minister and in September 1974, he became General Planning and Socio-Economic Research Minister after being returned as a member of Parliament for Samarahan constituency.On August 6, 1975, he became Information and Special Function Minister in addition to holding the portfolio of General Planning and Socio-Economic Research Minister. He was appointed the Primary Industries Minister in January 1978. He was again returned as a member of the Parliament of Samarahan constituency in the 1978 general election. He joined the new cabinet that was subsequently formed as Defense Minister and later in the 1980 Cabinet shuffle, he was given the portfolio of Federal Territory Minister.In February , Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (DR) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud resigned from the Federal Cabinet to contest the Sebandi State by-election in which he was returned unopposed and was made Sarawak's Land and Mines Minister before becoming the Chief Minister on March 26.Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (DR) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud was returned unopposed in the Parliamentary Constituency of Samarahan in April 1982. He also defeated his opponent in the State Constituency of Sebandi in the State Elections held in December 1983. In 1986 Parliamentary Elections, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Abdul Taib retained his Samarahan seat. He also defeated another opponent to retain the seat of Sebandi in the 1987 State Elections.In Politics, he was Vice-Chairman of Party Berjasa Sarawak in 1964. In the same year, he became a member of the State Alliance Council, Sarawak and a member of the Malaysian Alliance Council. When the National Front was formed in 1974, he also became an Executive Council member.In 1965, after the merger of the Party Berjasa and Party Negara, he was elected Secretary-General of the new party, Party Bumiputera until 1972. In 1972 he was appointed assistant party Whip in Parliament. From 1972 to 1973, he was Deputy President of Party Bumiputera Sarawak. In 1973, after the merger of Party Bumiputera and Party Pesaka Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Abdul Taib was Deputy President of the new party, the Party Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB). He is now PBB President.He has served in many public and voluntary bodies and has also represented the Government at various international conferences.He was elected President of the Regional Islamic Dakwah Council of South East Asia and Pacific (RISEAP) at the General Assembly in Kuching in September 1988.Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (DR) Haji Abdul Taib was also the Vice-President of PERKIM (Muslim Welfare Organisation Malaysia). He was however elected unanimously as PERKIM President on December 3, 1989, when Yang Teramat Mulia Tunku Abdul Rahman Alhaj relinquished the post.Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (DR) Haji Abdul Taib has written and published several works. These are : Muhammad and His Mission, Islam and Utility of Mankind (published in Islamic Review; Working England), Freedom of Thought of Islam (published in Islamic Literature of Pakistan), Islam and Nation Building in Malaysia, Harmony in Islam (published in Suara MIRO) and Appropriate Strategy for Developing Countries in a Period of Resource Scarcity (published in Foreign Affairs Malaysia).
Progress Under His Leadership
Under Sarawak's illustrious Chief Minister of 19 years, the state has undergone tremendous growth and development. When Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud took on the role of Chief Minister, he brought with him a vision of where Sarawak would go and how we would get there. In the decade and a half since, he has put Sarawak firmly on the path to economic and social progress.Since 1981, Sarawak's GDP has grown from RM 6.5 billion to RM 19.7 billion in 1995 and further increased to an estimated of RM 29.9 billion in 1999. The GDP per capita has also increased from RM10,488 in 1995 to RM14,950 in 1999. The State has also shown a decline in the incidence of poverty and hard-core poverty. In 1995, 31.9% of the population was living in poverty and 10% in hard-core poverty. By 1997, the incidence of poverty was down to 7.5% and hard-core poverty went down to 0.7%.The quality of life in the state has also improved. Infrastructure development has reached a wider population in the state since the eighties. In 1980, only 31.8% of Sarawakians had water supply. In 1995, the figure has reached 85% of the population and the government estimated that this figure to be 88% in 2000. 76% of the population had electricity supply in 1995, but this number is expected to reach to 89% by year 2000. Healthcare and education have followed similar trends.In short, Sarawakians today in general healthier, wealthier and better educated than they were 19 years ago.Most importantly, the Right Honourable Chief Minister has also brought political stability to Sarawak, favouring constitution rather than outright confrontation in resolving political differences. Under his leadership, there is sincere cooperation and power-sharing among political leaders.
Vision for A Developed State
The Chief Minister is bringing Sarawak on a unique path to achieving Sarawak's own Vision, in line with the national vision to be an industrialised country by the year 2020. The Chief Minister believes that Sarawak has all the potentials for rapid economic growth. "We have the land and mineral resources; we have enough skilled manpower, and there is plenty of capital around us. And above all there is real political stability. What we need is a system and a machinery that will bring these factors together for rapid development".
Development Policy and Philosophy
Guiding Sarawak towards Vision 2020, the Chief Minister also encouraged a more diversified economy, paying particular attention to the manufacturing and industrial sectors (See Industrial Development) as well as the tourism sector. As a result of the Chief Minister's foresight, Sarawak's GDP growth exceeded the national average for the first time in 1995.Despite the rapid economic growth of the state, the Chief Minister has placed emphasis on balance and sustainability in the state's development. To balance urban and rural development, the state government has gone into plantations, the development of Native Customary Land (NCL) (Please see Commercial Agriculture), careful town planning as well as natural resource planning (e.g. the creation of national parks and reserves). Ever faithful to the ideals of sustainable development, Sarawak is noted for its outstanding forest management (Please see Forestry and Forestry Management) , and is moving towards more down stream processing activities to ease the dependency on the state's natural resources. Religious and social development is also given due attention in the government's policies and plans.
Contact Address
Chief Minister's Office22nd Floor, Wisma Bapa Malaysia,Petra Jaya, 93502 Kuching,Sarawak, Malaysia.Tel : 082-440801Fax : 082-444566

My Biodata :Bukan Pehin BUjang Senang Pehin ATM

Nama : YAB Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi (Dr.) Hj Abdul Taib Bin Mahmud
Parti : Barisan Nasional-PBB
Jawatan : Ahli Parlimen Dan Ketua Menteri Sarawak
Alamat Pejabat : Tingkat 22, Wisma Bapa Malaysia, Petra Jaya, 93502 Kuching, Sarawak.
Tel: 082-440801
Faks: 082-449186
Laman Web / Email: www.cm.sarawak.gov.my

YAB. Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Hj Abdul Taib Bin Mahmud telah dilahirkan di Miri, Sarawak pada 21 Mei 1936.Beliau mendapat pendidikan rendah di St.Joseph School,Miri dan pendidikan menengah di St. Joseph�s Institution, Kuching.Beliau kemudiannya melanjutkan pelajaran ke Universiti of Adelaide,South Australia dan dianugerahkan Sarjana Muda Undang-Undang (LLB) pada tahun 1960. Beliau juga pernah mengikuti pengajian lepasan ijazah di Harvard International Seminar, Amerika Syarikat pada tahun 1964.

Beliau memulakan keriernya pada tahun 1961 sebagai Judge�s Associate di South Australia dan kemudiannya sebagai Crown Council pada tahun1962 hingga 1963. Pada tahun 1963, YAB Tan Sri telah dilantik sebagai Menteri Pembangunan dan kerjaya di bawah pemerintahan Ketua Menteri Sarawak yang pertama, YAB Datuk Stephen Kalong Ningkan.Semenjak itu, beliau telah memegang beberapa jawatan-jawatan penting dalam Kabinet Sarawak. Antaranya ialah Menteri Komunikasi dan Kerja Raya Sarawak (1963-1968), Menteri Pembangunan dan Perhutanan Sarawak (1966-1967) dan Setiausaha Agung Parti Bumiputera Sarawak (1965-1972).

Beliau kemudiannya dilantik sebagai Penolong kepada Menteri Perdagangan dan Industri Malaysia (1968-1970) sebelum memenangi kerusi Parlimen Samarahan buat kali pertama pada tahun 1970 hingga kini.Sehingga tahun 1981, YAB Tan Sri telah berpeluang untuk menduduki Kabinet Kerajaan Pusat dalam beberapa Kementerian seperti Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri ,(1970-1972), Timbalan Menteri Kerja Raya,Telekomunikasi dan Pos(1970-1972), Menteri Galian Asli(1972-1974), Menteri Perancangan Awam dan Penyelidikan Sosio-ekonomi (1974-1975), Menteri Penerangan dan Tugas-Tugas Khas (Ogos 1975), Menteri Perusahaan Utama (Januari 1978), Menteri Pertahanan (Julai 1978) dan Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan (1980-1987).

Pada tahun 1981, YAB Tan Sri telah memenangi kerusi DUN Sebandi (kini Asajaya).Kemudian,beliau telah dilantik sebagai Menteri Tanah dan Galian Sarawak sebelum dilantik sebagai Ketua Menteri Sarawak pada 26 Mac 1981. Beliau kemudiannya dilantik sebagai Presiden Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) dan Pengerusi Barisan Nasional Sarawak hingga kini.Pada Pilihanraya Ke 11 lalu, YAB Tan Sri telah berjaya mempertahankan kerusi Parlimen Samarahan yang dimenanginya sejak tahun 1970 tanpa bertanding.
Selain aktif berpolitik dan menjalankan pentadbiran negeri, YAB Tan Sri turut giat melibatkan diri dalam aktiviti social. Beliau kini merupakan Presiden PERKIM sejak Disember 1989, Presiden Regional Islamic Dakwah Council of South East Asia & Pasific (RISEAP) semenjak September 1988 dan Presiden Sarawak National Youth Association (Saberkas) mulai 1981.Selain itu, beliau juga pernah dilantik sebagai Pengerusi Kongres Muslim Malaysia Timur Sarawak (1963-1966), Naib Presiden Sarawak Boy Scout Movement (1963-1966), Naib Presiden Sarawak Scout Council 1964-1968, Presiden Malaysian Inter-Religious Organisation (1971-1974) dan Ahli Lembaga Yayasan Sains, Teknologi dan Pembangunan Islam (1981).

YAB Tan Sri turut mempunyai keahlian dalam beberapa organisasi professional seperti Malaysian Institut of Management sejak 1972, Institut of Republic Relation Malaysia (IPRM) sejak 1989, Islamic Ademy of Sciences Amman, Jordan sejak April 1998 . dan Mayo Clinic Alumni Association, Bochester, Amerika Syarikat sejak 1998.YAB Tan Sri juga pernah dilantik sebagai Pro Canselor Universiti Putra Malaysia pada tahun 1995 dan Pro Canselor Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) sejak tahun 1995.

Beliau yang kini menetap di Demak Jaya, Kuching elah mendirikan rumahtangga denga isterinya, Datuk Amar Puan Sri Hajah Laila dan di kurniakan empat orang anak.