KUALA LUMPUR – In a heartfelt social media post, Toh Puan Raghad Kurdi Taib bid another poignant farewell to her late husband and former Sarawak governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.
On Instagram, Raghad shared a black and white photo of what appears to be her hand embracing Taib’s in his final moments. She expressed her deep love and admiration for the man who played a pivotal role in shaping Sarawak.
“My last few hours with you… the longest few hours of my life. Indeed, Allah knows best. The last 14 years with you were all I have ever prayed for and so much more,” Raghad wrote in her emotional post.
Taib, who passed away on February 21, was eulogised by his wife as a bright light not only in her life but also in the lives of their extensive family and the people of Sarawak.
She also expressed deep admiration for Taib’s dedication and hard work, acknowledging his instrumental role in bringing progress and development to the state.
“Rest in peace, my dearest. Though I miss you terribly, I find solace in knowing that your legacy lives on in the hearts of everyone you touched. Until we meet again,” she said.
Taib died around 4.40am on February 21 at the KL Cardiac Vascular Sentral hospital after falling ill last year. He was 87 years old.
His passing was announced earlier by his daughter and Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib’s private secretary.
Taib had wed Syrian-born Raghad on December 18, 2010, after the passing of his first wife, Polish-born Lejla Chaleck – who later adopted the name Laila Taib – in 2009.
While Taib and Laila’s marriage saw the couple blessed with four children – Jamilah Taib Murray, Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir, Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman, and Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib – as well as 15 grandchildren, Taib also welcomed Raghad’s two sons from her previous marriage when he wed her.
Raghad and her two sons (from a previous relationship) were no strangers to the public’s eyes and interest, especially when rumours surfaced in 2017 that the trio were accorded native Bumiputera-Melanau status.
However, previous reports stated that Astana Negara would lodge a police report against anyone who questioned Raghad’s native status.
Last month, Raghad again came under scrutiny when leaked photos of her packing numerous boxes to move out of Taib’s official residence in Demak Jaya surfaced on social media. – March 1, 2024