Sarawak Timber Association holds solemn tribute for Taib on first anniversary of his death

KUCHING (Feb 21): The Sarawak Timber Association (STA) held a solemn tribute for former Governor Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at Wisma STA here to mark the first anniversary of his passing today.

The ceremony celebrated Taib’s leadership and lasting impact on Sarawak’s timber industry.

STA chairman Dato Henry Lau unveiled a commemorative photograph of Taib officially opening Wisma STA, a symbolic gesture of his enduring legacy.

Lau also launched a book titled ‘A Tribute to Taib Mahmud’, chronicling the former chief minister’s life, achievements, and instrumental role in shaping Sarawak’s timber sector.

The book details Taib’s extraordinary journey, from his early life and education to his transformative tenure as chief minister from 1981 to 2014.

It also highlights his pivotal role in restructuring STA in 1988, a move that united various stakeholders and strengthened policy alignment for the timber industry’s sustainable growth.

Among those present were Taib’s children Deputy Economy Minister and Mukah MP Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib and Dato Sri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib; STA advisor Datu Hamden Mohammad, who is director of forests; STA vice chairmen Dato Sri Patrick Wong and James Ho; as well as STA council members.

Reflecting on Taib’s legacy, Lau said the former chief minister was instrumental in the founding and strengthening of STA.

He said Taib’s vision helped unite industry players, creating a platform for dialogue and collaboration with the government on forestry operations and policies.

“Without him, I can safely say that we will not have the association of STA of today and the building like this; and also the amount of work that we have carried out in the past 20 over years,” he told reporters.

Hanifah reflected on her late father’s commitment to the environment.

“Knowing my late father, he had always been concerned about making sure that when you do development, you pay your respects as well to the environment – so there has to be a balance.

“And a lot of his ideas are what we see as something that’s very important for future generations of the sustainability of development,” she said.

She also thanked those involved in the commemoration ceremony.

“There’s a lot of things that I assume people do not know about my late father and the kind of things that he had contributed. He’s rather shy about telling others about what he had done.

“I’m hoping that with the kind of guidance that he had given in the past, this will continue to flourish and benefit Sarawak as well as the environment,” she added.