Taib to vacate Balingian seat on February 28

Tan Sri Taib Mahmud (right) hands over his resignation letter to Sarawak’s Head of State, Abang Muhammad Salahuddin (left) in Kuching, on February 12, 2014. Tan Sri Mahmud resigns as Balingian assemblyman when he retires on Friday to trigger a by-election for the state seat. — AFP pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 — Outgoing Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Taib Mahmud will resign as Balingian assemblyman when he retires on Friday to trigger a by-election for the state seat.

Taib officially submitted his resignation letter as chief minister to Head of State Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng on February 12, after weeks of speculation as to when he was going to vacate his long held post.

The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president has since appointed his party vice-president Tan Sri Adenan Satem as his successor.

Taib is also expected to be named Tuan Yang Terutama (TYT) of Sarawak after his retirement on Friday.