KUCHING: Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri likened the passing of Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud to losing a teacher.
She expressed this sentiment because the late Taib was the one who introduced her to politics.
"Personally, the unforgettable memory is that the late Taib was the first person who taught me to enter politics as a member of Parliament in 2008 until now."
"His death is a great loss not only to Sarawak but also to the country and to me personally because I received a lot of guidance from him," she said in a brief statement today.
Nancy praised Taib for dedicating his entire life to the development and prosperity of Sarawak.
She expressed that only God could repay the former Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak for his contributions to the people of Sarawak.
The late Taib, a statesman and the Father of Modern Sarawak, died at the age of 87 at a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur at 4.28am today.
His remains will be placed at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur before being flown to Sarawak this afternoon and expected to arrive at the Kuching International Airport at 3.30pm.
In Kuching, Taib's body will be placed at his residence in Demak Jaya and then brought to the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) tomorrow for the public to pay their last respects from 8am to noon.
The body of the former Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak will then be taken to the Demak mosque for prayers before the burial ceremony at the family's cemetery in Demak Jaya.
