KUCHING, Jan 9 — Tun Haji Abdul Rahman Ya’kub, Sarawak’s third chief minister and fourth Yang diPertua Negeri, passed away this evening at the Norman Memorial Specialist Centre here this evening. He was 87.

As Sarawak’s first bumiputra (Melanau) lawyer, having graduated from the University of Southampton in 1958, he started his career as a deputy public prosecutor before entering politics by joining Parti Bumiputera Sarawak (later to become Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu PBB).

Rahman Ya’kub was Malaysia’s Education Minister before he was appointed Sarawak Chief Minister in 1970.

Under his administration, Sarawak made the international headlines in 1974 after he made a peace deal that saw the Communist guerrillas surrendering under Operation Sri Aman.

When Rahman Ya’kub stepped down as chief minister in 1981 to become Sarawak Yang diPertua Negeri, he was succeeded by his nephew Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud, the current Yang diPertua Negri.

In 1987, uncle and nephew quarreled during the “Ming Court Affair” that saw Rahman Yakub fail in his bid to force Taib out of office.

More than 20 years later they would reconcile in 2008.