Abang Jo: Mr troubleshooter in Sarawak politics

KUCHING: The sixth Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg (pix) has vast experience in state politics and is known as Mr Troubleshooter or fondly called 'Abang Jo'.
The 66-year-old Abang Johari is the son of the first governor of Sarawak, Tun Abang Openg Abang Sapiee and Toh Puan Dayang Masniah Abdul Rahman.
Born in Limbang on Aug 4, 1950, Abang Johari has 10 siblings.
He received his primary education at SRK Merpati Jepang here and his secondary education at SMB St Joseph here before furthering his studies and obtained a Degree in Business Administration from Brunel University, United Kingdom.
Abang Johari, who is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Deputy President, first contested in the Satok state constituency in 1981, a seat he held until now.
Abang Johari's political career began when he became PBB Deputy Youth Chief in 1981 and has also served as a political secretary to the then Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri (now Tun) Abdul Taib Mahmud in 1983.
A year later, he was appointed as Sarawak Regional and Social Development Assistant Minister by Abdul Taib.
He has held various portfolios under the administration of Abdul Taib and the fifth Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
Among them were as Sarawak Housing Minister, Tourism Minister, Urbanisation and Arts Minister before being appointed as Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister after the state election last year.
Besides his political portfolio, Abang Johari is also active in NGOs and is the Deputy President of the Sarawak United National Youth organisation (Saberkas).
A former Corporate Affairs Manager of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Ahadiah Zamhari described Abang Johari as a trouble shooter who could solve problems effectively.
"During my nine-year working stint with HDC, an agency under the Housing Ministry, he (Abang Johari) has solved critical problems at that time, namely financial woes," she said.
Ahadiah said, within two months of becoming Housing Minister in July 2004, Abang Johari had managed to secure an allocation of RM200 million for the construction of affordable housing projects in the Eighth and Ninth Malaysia Plan.
She said due to the success of obtaining the federal provision, the People's Friendly Housing Scheme (RMR), which was only implemented in the peninsula, was now being carried out in Sarawak.
"The scheme has greatly benefited villagers who have the land but cannot afford to build a house," she said.
On her experience working with Abang Johari, Ahadiah said that he is a leader who has many ideas, approachable and practises an inclusive approach.
"I still remember one of the tasks given to me was to set up a special housing committee involving the public and private sectors that became the basis of close cooperation of these two sectors until now," she said.
Abang Johari is married to Datin Amar Jumaani Tun Tuanku Haji Bujang and they have two children - a son and a daughter.
Jumaani was quoted in an article published in the website, jiwabakti.com.my as saying her husband is a family orientated person, who is gentle with his family.
She said her husband also loved to eat at home and his favourite food is "masak merah" chicken briyani rice. — Bernama