KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has described Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud's passing as a big loss to the nation, especially Sarawak.
In a Facebook post, the MCA president expressed his condolences over the death of the former Sarawak governor, whom he said brought many changes to the state.
"(His) passing... is certainly a great loss for the country, especially the people of Sarawak as the deceased was a person who brought great changes to Sarawak since he took as the fourth chief minister.
"May his soul be blessed," he said.
Taib died at the Cardio Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur hospital (CVSKL) here early today. He was 87.
His body is expected to arrive at the Kuching International Airport in Kuching about 3pm today from Kuala Lumpur before being taken to his his residence in Demak Jaya at Jalan Bako.
Tomorrow, Taib's body will be taken to the State Legislative Assembly for the public to pay their last respects from 8am to noon.
The body will then be brought to the Demak mosque for prayers before the burial ceremony in the family's cemetery in Demak Jaya.
Taib served as Sarawak's chief minister from March 1981 to February 2014 before becoming the state's governor from March 1, 2014, until Jan 26, this year.
Before being appointed chief minister, he had also served at federal level in various ministries.