KUALA LUMPUR: The prayers once offered by former Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud for the late Reverend Father Datuk Lawrence Chua in October 2021 are now being echoed back to him.
The Catholic Archbishop of Kuching, Father Simon Poh, recounted a poignant story about the late Taib during the death of Chua.
"Both of them grew up as classmates in Mukah and came to study at St Joseph's secondary school, Kuching and they remained lifelong friends.
"I was told that Taib was shedding tears of sadness when he wrote a personal handwritten note of condolence for Chua, addressed to me.
"Now, in the late Taib's own words, we also pray: 'Saya berdoa semoga Tuhan menganugerahkan syurga yang dikhaskan untuk umatnya yang baik dan taat' (l pray that God will graciously bestow a heavenly abode for His faithful and obedient people)," Poh was quoted as saying in Dayakdaily.
The Catholic Church in Sarawak expressed its gratitude to Taib for his efforts to maintain religious harmony and freedom in Sarawak.
On behalf of the Catholic Church in Sarawak, with Sibu Bishop Joseph Hii, Miri Bishop Richard Ng and the Sarawak religious sisters (nuns), Poh extended their deepest condolences to the Sarawak government and family of the late Taib.
"We are grateful to Taib's vision for the modernisation of Sarawak and especially for ensuring religious harmony and freedom in this land.
"These efforts have greatly contributed to the current environment of mutual respect and acceptance among all the races, cultures and religions in our beloved Sarawak," Poh said.
Taib passed away in Kuala Lumpur early yesterday at the age of 87.
Sarawak's longest-serving chief minister took his last breath at 4.28am at the Cardiac Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur hospital (CVSKL).