Taib: I am too old to get new wife
“Now, if I need money, I have to ask my bodyguards,” he said jokingly.
By Peter Sibon, New Straits Times
KUCHING: At 74, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has no plans to remarry after his wife, Puan Sri Laila Taib, 68, passed away on April 29 last year due to lung cancer.
He jovially replied Semariang assemblywoman Sharifah Hashidah Syed Aman Ghazali’s pantun urging him to get married again.
“I am already 74. It’s too old for me to get a new partner now,” Taib said in jest when launching the Kejiranan Mesra (Friendly Neighbourhood) programme at Kampung Malaysia Jaya in Petra Jaya here yesterday.
He said he still missed his wife and described her as his “accountant” because she would carry some money whenever she went with him for functions.
“Now, if I need money, I have to ask my bodyguards,” he said jokingly.
Taib said he would leave the running of his household to his children — Jamilah Hamidah, Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir, Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman and Datin Hanifah Hajar Taib.
On another note, he encouraged urban dwellers to get to know their neighbours well as this would encourage a friendlier atmosphere in their housing estate.
Citing various mega cities around the world where he had been, he said the vast majority of residents there were scared to venture out at night as the streets were controlled by thugs.
“We have to be different and maintain our tradition for loving peace and harmony. I can only advise.
“I cannot enforce this programme if the people are not receptive to it,” he said.
The programme, a brainchild of Taib, was first launched on Nov 3 2001.
Currently, 20 neighbourhoods under the Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) have adopted the programme.
The main objectives were to promote a friendly neighbourhood, to encourage sharing of ideas and preservation of culture and tradition.
Later, when asked to comment on Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala’s statement that the Federal Government should gradually cut subsidies, Taib said it was premature to comment as it has not reached the cabinet level.
THIS LINK says that Taib married Dian P. Ramlee circa September 2009.
