Taib Mahmud Wife: Meet Raghad Kurdi Taib – Born on May 21, 1936, Taib Mahmud was a prominent Malaysian statesman renowned for his extensive tenure in politics.
He held the esteemed position of the seventh Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak from March 2014 to January 2024, as well as serving as the fourth Chief Minister of Sarawak from March 1981 to February 2014.
Widely hailed as the Father of Modern Sarawak (Bapa Pemodenan Sarawak), his leadership spanned an impressive 33 years, making him the longest-serving head of government in a Malaysian state. Additionally, his parliamentary career extended over 38 years, establishing him as one of Malaysia’s most enduring parliamentarians.
Taib Mahmud Wife: Meet Raghad Kurdi Taib
On January 13, 1959, Taib entered matrimony with Laila Taib, an 18-year-old Polish Muslim of Lipka Tatar descent, in a ceremony held at Adelaide mosque in South Australia. Tragically, on April 29, 2009, Laila succumbed to cancer and was laid to rest at the Demak Jaya cemetery in Kuching the following day.
Subsequently, on December 18, 2010, at the age of 74, Taib entered into his second marriage with Ragad Waleed Alkurdi, a Syrian-born widow in her early 30s. Their wedding, marked by privacy, was attended solely by family members and a select group of 200 guests. Shortly after, on January 8, 2011, Taib and his new spouse were spotted together at a wedding reception in Kuala Lumpur. They later hosted their own wedding reception at the New Sarawak State Legislative Building Complex, held sometime in mid-January.
A member of the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) within the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, Taib Mahmud belonged to the Melanau ethnic group. He earned several affectionate monikers throughout his career, such as “Pak Uban” (White-haired Uncle) and “Pek Moh” (white hair) among Chinese communities. Furthermore, he was sometimes referred to as the “last white rajah” or “white-haired rajah,” drawing parallels to Sarawak’s colonial history under the Brooke family.
Assuming the role of Chief Minister of Sarawak at the age of 45, Taib Mahmud’s leadership legacy endured for decades. Despite his significant contributions to Sarawak’s development, Taib and his family faced allegations of corruption and exploitation of the state’s natural and economic resources.
In a historic transition, on February 12, 2014, Taib Mahmud tendered his resignation as Chief Minister, marking the conclusion of his 33-year tenure. His former brother-in-law, Adenan Satem, succeeded him in this role from March 1, 2014. Concurrently, Taib received formal recognition as the 7th Sarawak Head of State from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara on February 28, subsequently taking the oath of office the following day. This transition marked him as the second Sarawakian to hold the position of Governor, following in the footsteps of his uncle, Abdul Rahman Ya’kub.
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
Categories: News
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
