Abang Johari Tun Openg, Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister and PBB deputy president, was sworn in as the new chief minister of the state on Friday. He succeeded Adenan Satem, who died of heart failure on Wednesday.
The 66-year-old leader took his oath of office as the sixth chief minister of Sarawak before Governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud at the Astana, the official residence of the Head of State at 4.10 pm on Friday in Putra Jaya.
The event was witnessed by Abang Johari's wife Amar Jumaani Tuanku Bujang, members of the state cabinet, state assemblymen and senior civil servants.
During Adenan's time, Abang Johari, or Abang Jo as he is fondly known, was one of the three deputy chief ministers. The two others are Amar Douglas Uggah and Dr. James Masing. Abang Jo also serves the responsibility of the Minister of State Housing and Urbanisation and the Minister of State Tourism, Arts and Culture.
Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, PBB (Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu) senior vice-president said on Friday that Abang Johari, who was the deputy president of PBB, had the complete support from the party to take the job.
"We all support Abang Jo," Awang Tengah told Bernama after leaving Governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud's residence at Demak Jaya. Reports said senior leaders of PBB and state Barisan Nasional met Taib on Friday morning to discuss about the succession.
Adenan, one of the most popular leaders in Malaysia, died at the age of 72, eight months after helping Barisan Nasional (BN) to get a landslide victory, winning 72 out of 82 state seats in last year's state election.
