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Abdul Rahman Ya'kub

Malaysian politician Abdul Rahman bin Ya'kub served as Sarawak's third Chief Minister and fourth Governor.

1. Early life and education

Abdul Rahman bin Ya'kub was born in the village of Kampung Jepak, Bintulu, Sarawak, on January 3, 1928. His father, Tuan Wan Ya'kub bin Wan Yusuf, was a fisherman, and his mother, Siti Hajar binti Haji Mohd Tahir, was a housewife. Seeking better educational opportunities, his family moved from Bintulu to Miri. Abdul Rahman first attended a Malay school, followed by Sekolah Anchi in Miri. His father, who desired an Islamic education for him, attempted to enroll him in the Aljunied Arabic School in 1939, but his mother opposed this due to the outbreak of World War II. He then transferred to St. Joseph Miri, but his studies were interrupted by the Japanese invasion. During his youth, he also learned the Japanese martial art of Aikido and had the opportunity to meet its founder, Morihei Ueshiba.

Abdul Rahman was active in sports during his school days, particularly football. Later in life, he also enjoyed playing golf.

3. Entry into federal politics

Abdul Rahman played a role in the establishment of Parti Negara Sarawak (PANAS) and Barisan Ra'ayat Jati Sarawak (BARJASA) by assisting in the drafting of their constitutions. However, he chose to join BARJASA due to his opposition to the Malay aristocrats within PANAS. In the 1963 local council elections in Sarawak, Abdul Rahman and his party members, including Ustaz Abdul Kadir Hassan and Suut Haji Tahir, were defeated. Despite this, the Malaysian federal government nominated Abdul Rahman as the first Chief Minister of Sarawak. This nomination, however, was rejected by the Sarawak Alliance, which was then dominated by the Sarawak National Party (SNAP).

Following his loss in the three-tier 1963 Sarawak district council elections, Abdul Rahman was appointed as a senator in the Dewan Negara by the Malaysian federal government. He was subsequently appointed as Assistant Federal Minister of National and Rural Development for Sarawak. The first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, brought Abdul Rahman into politics, while the second Prime Minister, Abdul Razak Hussein, mentored him. Tunku Abdul Rahman was satisfied with Abdul Rahman's performance as an assistant federal minister, leading to his promotion to the full Minister of Lands and Mines in 1965.

4. Federal minister tenure

As Minister of Lands and Mines, Abdul Rahman began advocating for the establishment of a national oil company, which would later become Petronas in 1974. He also recommended Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to be appointed as Petronas's chairman.

In 1969, Abdul Rahman became the Minister of Education. He made a significant policy change by shifting the medium of instruction for all schools and higher learning institutions from English to the Malay language. He is also credited with the establishment of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 1970. Furthermore, he abolished the primary six common entrance examination, allowing all primary six students to continue their secondary education. Abdul Rahman resigned from his post as Education Minister before returning to Sarawak to assume the role of Chief Minister in 1970. Following his resignation, on July 7, 1970, the University of Malaya Malay Language Association (Persatuan Bahasa Melayu Universiti Malaya or PBMUM) and the UM Islamic Student Association (Persatuan Mahasiswa Islam UM or PMIUM) sought clarification from Tun Abdul Razak regarding his departure. On July 9, 1970, approximately 2,000 students from PBMUM, along with students from UKM, organized a demonstration protesting his resignation. On July 10, Abdul Rahman clarified that the Malay language policy would not be altered despite his resignation.

5. Sarawak Chief Minister tenure

Abdul Rahman Ya'kub's tenure as Chief Minister of Sarawak was marked by significant political maneuvering, key policy decisions, and efforts to address various challenges, including the communist insurgency and economic development.

5.1. Appointment to Chief Minister

Abdul Rahman won the Kuala Rajang state constituency during the resumption of the 1969 state election in 1970, representing Parti Bumiputera Sarawak, which was part of the Sarawak Alliance. Following the election, no single party secured a clear majority. Abdul Rahman initially planned to cooperate with Parti Pesaka Sarawak (PESAKA) to form a government, but PESAKA did not accept him as their chief minister. Consequently, PESAKA entered negotiations with the Sarawak National Party (SNAP) and the Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) to form a government. However, unbeknownst to SNAP and PESAKA, SUPP was simultaneously negotiating with Parti Bumiputera to establish a separate coalition. Abdul Rahman successfully convinced SUPP to form a coalition government with him as Chief Minister. As part of this agreement, SUPP demanded the expulsion and subsequent dissolution of the Sarawak Chinese Association (SCA) from the Sarawak Alliance. To ensure Dayak participation in the Sarawak cabinet, Rahman offered Penghulu Abok from PESAKA a cabinet position. Simon Dembab Raja from PESAKA joined the cabinet the following day as a Deputy Chief Minister. Shortly thereafter, Temenggung Jugah, the president of PESAKA, announced his support for Rahman's coalition government, leaving SNAP as the sole opposition party in Sarawak. Upon his appointment, Abdul Rahman was tasked by Tun Abdul Razak to address the communist insurgency in Sarawak.

5.2. UMNO membership

Abdul Rahman was appointed an executive member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) on May 16, 1965, amidst the Stephen Kalong Ningkan's land bill crisis. He served as the vice-president of the UMNO Datu Keramat branch and was a central committee member of the party, even while also being a member of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB). In 1970, Abdul Rahman was one of the candidates vying for UMNO's vice-presidency. Rahman played a key role in molding Sarawak's politics in the UMNO image, drafting the PBB constitution by adapting it from UMNO's constitution. Similar to UMNO's party structure, PBB adopted four levels of bureaucracy: General Assembly, Supreme Council, branches, and sub-branches, mirroring UMNO's national, negeri liaison office, division, and branches. At every party level, PBB also established youth and women's wings, consistent with UMNO's setup. Abdul Rahman was able to influence party policies and party elections during his term as PBB president from 1977 to 1981.

It was Rahman Ya'kub's intention to integrate UMNO into Sarawak to unify national Bumiputera politics, believing such unification could form the foundation of Malaysian federal and state governments. He expressed concern that UMNO did not adapt its party policies to changing times, specifically arguing that UMNO should be open to accepting non-Muslim natives in Sarawak as members. In his opinion, UMNO's reluctance to accept non-Muslim natives was not a healthy phenomenon, as allowing them to join could significantly strengthen the UMNO party and foster greater unity among natives in Malaysia. Furthermore, he believed that federal UMNO leaders could visit Sarawak to garner votes during the UMNO general assembly, thereby enabling them to better appreciate local problems in Sarawak and bridge the geographical divide between Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia.

5.3. Sarawak oil and gas rights

During the early 1970s, as reported by the Sarawak Tribune (a newspaper owned by Abdul Rahman) during the 1987 Ming Court Affair, the federal government sought to acquire Sarawak's oil rights through discussions with state leaders, including Abdul Rahman, via Abdul Taib Mahmud. Taib, then the federal Primary Industry Minister responsible for all mining industries including petroleum and gas, along with his aide Adenan Satem, attempted to persuade Abdul Rahman to cede Sarawak's Continental shelf to the federal government's complete control, which would have deprived Sarawak of the 10% oil royalty it had been receiving from foreign oil companies. Although Abdul Rahman initially refused this proposal, Taib proceeded to introduce a hydrocarbon bill in 1974, which would grant total federal dominance over Sarawak's oil and gas resources, without consulting Abdul Rahman. However, in Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's 1986 autobiography, it was stated that Taib advocated for a 10% oil royalty sharing arrangement between the federal and state governments.

Abdul Rahman threatened to sue the federal government if the bill was not withdrawn. He obtained three legal opinions-from a former Attorney General of Australia, a public international law expert from Cambridge University, and a former High Court judge-to support Sarawak's claim that its territorial waters were not limited to a three-nautical-mile boundary for oil royalty purposes. In response, Abdul Razak invited Abdul Rahman to Kuala Lumpur for a closed-door discussion. During this discussion, Rahman agreed to a smaller oil royalty payout, acknowledging that the federal government was not financially robust at the time and that the oil royalty would be revised in the future. The hydrocarbon bill was eventually withdrawn due to persistent protests by the Sarawak government. According to Lukas Straumann, the conflict over oil and gas rights was ultimately resolved as an internal family affair within Abdul Rahman's family.

The federal government appointed Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to negotiate new terms with Abdul Rahman. In 2010, Abdul Rahman claimed that during a meeting to finalize oil royalty payments, chaired by Tun Tan Siew Sin (Federal Finance Minister) and attended by Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Stephen Yong Kuet Tze, an agreement for a 5% oil royalty was reached without his consultation. However, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's 1986 autobiography stated that Abdul Rahman agreed to an equal share of a 10% oil royalty between the federal and state governments after a private discussion with Razaleigh. In 2021, Tengku Razaleigh further asserted that the 5% oil royalty was calculated by Rahman himself. Conversely, Stephen Yong's 1998 memoir indicated that Chief Minister Datu Mustapha Datu Harun from neighboring Sabah agreed to the 5% oil royalty offered by the Malaysian federal government, which led the Sarawak government to reluctantly accept the deal in the name of national interest. In a supreme council (cabinet) meeting held on May 23, 1974, Rahman Ya'kub discovered that the federal treasury had not provided the necessary funds for security operations in Sarawak. He stated that if the funds did not arrive by May 27, he would not sign the Petronas oil royalty deal. The security funds were subsequently provided on time. Abdul Rahman ultimately agreed to the 5% oil royalty offered by the federal government. The Petroleum Development Act was passed in parliament in 1974, granting the Malaysian oil and gas company, Petronas, control over Sarawak's oil and gas reserves. Revenues from oil and gas were to be divided among oil-producing states (5 percent), the federal government (5 percent), the producer company (41 percent), and Petronas (49 percent).

5.4. Tackling communist insurgency

The Sarawak Communist Insurgency was responsible for the killing of 12 Iban border scouts in the seventh division on August 27, 1970. Communists were also implicated in the killings of several villagers in the first, second, and third divisions.

The communist movement was significantly weakened when Abdul Rahman signed a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Director of Political Commissioner of Pasukan Rakyat Kalimantan Utara (PARAKU), led by Bong Kee Chok, at Sri Aman on October 21, 1973. On March 4, 1974, Abdul Rahman organized a press conference at the Tun Razak exhibition center in Kuching, attended by various domestic and international media. He formally announced the MoU, presented a notice titled "Successes of the Sri Aman Operation," shared a letter from Bong that initiated the peace process, and read a short declaration by Bong. Abdul Rahman then announced that the curfew would be lifted for the whole of Sarawak. He subsequently joined a peace procession attended by 10,000 people.

5.5. Development policy

To safeguard national interests, Abdul Rahman declared that he renounced the slogan "Sarawak for Sarawakians" and replaced it with "Malaysia for Malaysians" a few weeks after becoming Chief Minister. Rahman argued that regional politics was not only divisive but could also harm national solidarity. He also stated that Sarawak should accept policies from the federal government because "Sarawak received a lot of money from the federal government. Without their assistance, we could never hope to progress so quickly." Rahman further asserted that "Sarawak will become the model state for Malaysia, and will swim and sink together with Malaysia."

Rahman also introduced a motion in the Council Negri to make Bahasa Melayu, alongside English, an official language of Sarawak. The motion was passed unanimously on March 26, 1974, a decision that drew fierce criticism from Stephen Kalong Ningkan. Abdul Rahman also began implementing the national education policy in Sarawak, changing the medium of instruction in all schools from English to Malay. Sekolah Datuk Abdul Rahman was the first school in Sarawak to adopt this change in 1970. By 1976, a total of 258 primary schools, involving 36,267 students, had adopted Bahasa Melayu as their medium of instruction.

Abdul Rahman began appointing Muslim Bumiputera officers to important government positions. He appointed Abang Yusuf Puteh as the new state secretary, succeeding Gerusin Lembat, who was the first non-European Sarawak state secretary. Bujang Mohammad Nor was appointed as financial secretary, Safri Awang Zaidell as secretary of the community service council, and Hamdan bin Sirat as Sarawak Commissioner of Police.

Abdul Rahman established the Sarawak Foundation to provide scholarships and educational loans for needy students. He also created several statutory bodies, including the State Planning Unit, to accelerate development in Sarawak. Under his tenure, the number of administrative divisions in Sarawak increased from five to seven. A bridge built in May 1975, connecting the two local authority areas of Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) in Petra Jaya and Kuching South City Council (MBKS) in Kuching city, was named after him.

Rahman Ya'kub also established the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) in 1972. By 1981, SEDC had 13 subsidiaries involved in various economic sectors, including Perkhidmatan Insurans (Broker) Sdn Bhd, Kuching Hotel Sdn Bhd, Eksport Utama Sdn Bhd (black pepper export), Perina Sdn Bhd (wholesale goods such as rice, sugar, and flour), Sarawak Motor Industries (assembling BMW and Toyota cars), Cement Manufacturers Sarawak Sdn Bhd (now Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad), and Sarawak Chemical Industries. SEDC also developed industrial estates in Piasau (Miri), Ulu Lanang (Sibu), and Limbang. Furthermore, Rahman Ya'kub founded the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) in June 1973 to develop the logging industry in Sarawak.

5.6. Timber politics and electoral patronage

Abdul Rahman bin Ya'kub was known for utilizing his authority as Chief Minister to distribute state resources to his political clients. In return, these clients would finance his electoral campaigns during state elections, thereby ensuring their loyalty to his leadership. Notable recipients of timber concessions included Zainuddin Satem, Salleh Jafaruddin (Rahman's nephew), Wan Habib Syed Mahmud (Rahman's nephew), Wan Madzihi Madzar (Rahman's nephew), and Daniel Tajem. He also granted timber concessions to his family members, such as Norlia Abdul Rahman (daughter), Khadijah Abdul Rahman (daughter), and Jamil Abdullah (Rahman's brother-in-law). A case study in Belaga district revealed that 70% of the shares in the Lembahan Mewah timber license were owned by his daughters, while the remaining 30% were held by the wife of Datuk Tajang Laing, the state assemblyman for Belaga district. Companies linked to Rahman that received timber concessions included Baltim Timber Sdn Bhd, Syarikat Delapan Sdn Bhd, Barbet Sdn Bhd, and Lembahan Mewah Sdn Bhd.

With the assistance of the Malaysian federal government, Abdul Rahman also distributed developmental projects, financial grants, and other handouts to voters in exchange for electoral support. Ministers would distribute developmental projects already planned under the Malaysian Plan or pledge new projects under their respective ministries. For instance, during the 1978 Malaysian general election, seven new developmental projects totaling 189.90 M MYR were allocated by federal and state leaders. Developmental projects and financial grants were also drawn from state assemblymen and Member of Parliament (MP) grants, valued at 200.00 K MYR and 300.00 K MYR respectively.

Financial grants were provided to voters for purchasing essential goods. Subsidies, such as fertilizers, water tanks, and land titles, were also given to voters to address specific needs. In the 1974 elections, eight developmental projects and financial grants totaling 22.40 M MYR were distributed. In the 1978 election, 102 projects worth 200.00 M MYR were distributed. This increase in developmental projects was primarily a response to the intense challenge posed by opposition parties, including Parti Anak Jati Sarawak (PAJAR), Parti Negara Rakyat Sarawak (PNRS), Sarawak People's Party (SAPO), and Parti Umat Sarawak (UMAT). Such granting of developmental projects gradually eroded electoral support for the opposition. According to Alli Kawi, the leader of PAJAR, in 1988: "Then came the onslaught. Truckloads and boatloads of water tanks were delivered to longhouses and Malay kampungs. Minor roads were immediately constructed. These were cheap and less bothersome for minor works for the government which did not require any planning. Boats powered by two powerful engines were seen anchored in the river near Kampung Pusa with some influential and wealthy people who had come to assist in the Barisan Nasional's campaign. Again it was clear that this was the case of money and more money and we could not fight them dollar for dollar."

5.7. Maintaining the position of Islam

To strengthen the position of Islam in Sarawak, Abdul Rahman was instrumental in the revision of Articles 4(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the State of Sarawak. These revisions stipulated that "The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall be the head of religion of Islam in Sarawak" and that "the Council Negri is empowered to make provisions for regulating Islamic affairs through a Council to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong." Such provisions enabled the Council Negri to pass ordinances concerning Islamic religious affairs.

Following the 1968 East Malaysia Islamic Congress held in Kuching, Abdul Rahman established a state-sponsored Islamic non-governmental organization (NGO) in 1969 named Angkatan Nahdatul Islam Bersatu (BINA), serving as its first president until 1988. This NGO was later renamed Harakah Islamiah (HIKMAH) in 1994. Through this organization, Rahman was able to conduct various Islamic activities without necessarily going through state agencies. BINA/HIKMAH was responsible for the conversion of thousands of natives and Chinese, which were widely publicized in newspapers. Between 1973 and 1980, at least 2,236 conversion cases were reported in newspapers. Mass conversion ceremonies were often attended by Abdul Rahman himself and other Muslim ministers at his residence. However, the total number of conversions facilitated by Abdul Rahman was fewer than those attributed to Tun Mustapha in the neighboring state of Sabah, where he was believed to have converted a total of 95,000 Sabahans. While some conversions were attributed to genuine belief in Islam, others viewed them as a means to gain political office, employment, or government contracts. For example, after a conversion ceremony of Ibans in Kuching, Abdul Rahman announced that BINA would construct a 40-door longhouse for the new converts. In December 1978, the Majlis Islam Bill was amended to allow for the establishment of syariah courts in Sarawak, comprising the Supreme Syariah Court, the Appeal Court, and several Kadi courts. The Supreme Syariah Court and Appeal Court were enforced throughout Sarawak, while the Kadi Courts were enforced only in Kuching, Sibu, and Miri. The Majlis Islam (Amendment) Act was fully enforced on January 1, 1983.

5.8. 1974 state election and aftermath

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) was formed in 1973 following the merger of Parti Bumiputera and PESAKA. In the same year, the Sarawak Chinese Association (SCA) was expelled from the Sarawak Alliance, leading to its demise. Meanwhile, the Sarawak Alliance was succeeded by the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which included a broader range of parties. Abdul Rahman successfully led his BN coalition to victory in the 1974 Sarawak state election, where the coalition secured 30 out of 48 seats. The SNAP party, despite being in opposition, won 18 seats. The PBB party saw a significant increase in its popular vote, rising from 47.3 percent in 1970 to 70.3 percent in 1974. However, the secretary-general of SUPP, Stephen Yong Kuet Tze, who also served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak at the time, was defeated in the election. For the 1974 parliamentary election, Sarawak BN won 15 out of 24 seats, with SNAP securing the remaining seats. To neutralize the electoral threat posed by SNAP, Abdul Rahman decided to allow SNAP into the BN coalition on November 1, 1976, resulting in a brief period where there was no formal opposition voice in Sarawak.

However, Abdul Rahman's relationship with SUPP began to deteriorate after the 1974 election. In May 1978, a delegation of SUPP leaders, led by Stephen Yong, attempted to persuade Prime Minister Hussein Onn to remove Abdul Rahman. This plan failed, however, as the 1978 general election was imminent. Consequently, Abdul Rahman permitted the entry of the Peninsular Malaysia-based Democratic Action Party (DAP) into Sarawak in 1978, aiming to counter the Chinese electoral support for SUPP. On March 28, 1978, Parti Anak Jati Sarawak (PAJAR) was formed, driven by the dissatisfaction of a number of Malays concerning Abdul Rahman's increasing tolerance for cronyism and his perceived disregard for the welfare of the Malay community.

Abdul Rahman opted not to dissolve the Council Negeri of Sarawak during the 1978 Malaysian general election, as he needed to address the opposition from the PAJAR party and resolve the allocation of state assembly seats following SNAP's inclusion into the BN coalition. Despite this, Abdul Rahman's BN coalition demonstrated a strong performance in the 1978 parliamentary election, winning 23 out of 24 parliamentary seats in Sarawak, with the Sarawak People's Party (SAPO) securing the remaining seat. Abdul Rahman dissolved the Council Negri one year after the parliamentary election. This marked the first time in Sarawak's history that the state election was held separately from the national parliamentary election, a practice that has continued since. The Sarawak BN coalition achieved a landslide victory in the 1979 Sarawak state election, winning 45 out of 48 state assembly seats with 61.23 percent of the popular vote.

5.9. Relationship with Malaysian federal government

Prior to the 1974 Sarawak state election, Rahman threatened to step down due to a perceived lack of support from the federal government in facing the election. Sarawak secretary Abang Yusuf Puteh met with the prime minister to resolve the allocation issue, after which Abdul Rahman changed his mind and continued his leadership in Sarawak. He also engaged in arguments with the federal government over the alleged mistreatment of Sarawak state agencies in several matters. Despite these occasional disputes with the federal government, Abdul Rahman generally maintained a good working relationship, particularly during the administration of Tun Abdul Razak.

5.10. Retirement

Abdul Rahman underwent a successful heart surgery in London in October 1980. Due to his declining health, Rahman ultimately decided to step down from the Chief Minister post, appointing his nephew and successor, Abdul Taib Mahmud, on March 26, 1981. Upon announcing his retirement, Rahman stated: "Taib would steer the boat with more skill and speed. I am no longer able to steer the boat but suffice that I wave the flag."

6. Governor of Sarawak

In 1981, Abdul Rahman resigned from his position as Chief Minister and was appointed as the Governor of Sarawak. However, he retained significant influence over the state's principal levers of patronage, including land development permits, government contracts, and timber licenses. In 1985, Rahman Ya'kub and the Malay National Association of Sarawak extended an invitation to UMNO to establish its branches in Sabah and Sarawak, with the aim of facilitating the integration of Bumiputeras into national politics. However, Mahathir Mohamad, who was then the Prime Minister and UMNO president, clarified that UMNO had no intention of expanding its branches into these two states and was content to collaborate with local parties. Rahman Ya'kub later resigned from his post as Governor of Sarawak in 1986, citing health reasons.

7. Political conflict and 1987 'Ming Court Affair'

The political crisis, later known as the 1987 'Ming Court Affair', began to brew while Abdul Rahman bin Ya'kub was serving as Governor of Sarawak. He publicly criticized his nephew, Abdul Taib Mahmud, in a speech at the opening ceremony of Bintulu port in 1983. By 1985, Abdul Rahman was involved in a bitter dispute with Taib Mahmud over the allocation of rights. In 1987, Abdul Rahman formed a new political party named Parti Persatuan Rakyat Malaysia Sarawak (PERMAS) to challenge Taib Mahmud in the upcoming elections. He also forged an alliance with the Sarawak Dayak People's Party (PBDS) with the aim of unseating Taib Mahmud.

In March 1987, 27 of the 48 state assemblymen suddenly declared their support for Abdul Rahman bin Ya'kub, calling for Taib Mahmud to resign as Chief Minister. Among these defectors were four of Taib's cabinet ministers and three assistant ministers. A war of accusations regarding timber concessionaires then erupted between Abdul Rahman bin Ya'kub and Taib Mahmud. Taib responded by revoking 30 timber licenses held by his defectors and Abdul Rahman's clients. Taib further accused Abdul Rahman of awarding 1.25 million hectares of logging concessions, valued at 22.50 B MYR, to himself and his relatives. In retaliation, Abdul Rahman bin Ya'kub revealed a list of timber concessions covering 1.6 million hectares held by Taib's clients and family. Despite an unsuccessful attempt in the 1987 Sarawak state election, Abdul Rahman continued his struggle with his allies, the Sarawak Dayak People's Party, against Taib's led Sarawak Barisan Nasional until the 1991 Sarawak state election, when Taib's coalition secured an overwhelming majority of 49 out of 56 seats in the state assembly.

8. Later life and reconciliation

Abdul Rahman celebrated his 80th birthday at the Hilton Hotel, Kuching, in 2008. During the grand ceremony, he embraced his nephew, Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, marking the end of a 20-year strained relationship between them following the Ming Court Affair. He publicly stated that he reconciled with Taib because "blood is thicker than water." After leaving active politics in 1986, he remained active in religious activities, conducting free religious classes for the public at his residence, "Sri Bahagia," in Petra Jaya.

9. Death

Abdul Rahman bin Ya'kub was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Normah Specialist Medical Centre, Kuching, in early November 2014 due to health problems. He suffered from loss of appetite and required ventilation equipment. He passed away peacefully at 9:40 pm on January 9, 2015, at the age of 87. He was accorded a state funeral by the Sarawak state government and was laid to rest at the Samariang Muslim Cemetery in Petra Jaya, Kuching.

10. Legacy and honors

Several places and institutions have been named in honor of Abdul Rahman bin Ya'kub, reflecting his lasting impact on Sarawak and Malaysia. These include a hostel seminar room at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), a library at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), and a bridge. On June 22, 1971, Sekolah Menengah Sedaya in Kanowit was renamed Sekolah Menengah Dato Haji Abdul Rahman Ya'kub. Additionally, the Normah Specialist Medical Centre, built in 1988, is named after his first wife, Toh Puan Normah Abdullah.

He received numerous significant state and federal honors throughout his career:

  • Malaysia**:
    • Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (SMN) - Tun (1982)
    • Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN) - Tan Sri (1977)
  • Sarawak**:
    • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (DP) - Datuk Patinggi
    • Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of Sarawak (PNBS) - Dato, later Dato Sri (1967)
  • Terengganu**:
    • Member Grand Companion of the Order of Sultan Mahmud I of Terengganu (SSMT) - Dato' Seri (1984)
  • Johor**:
    • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor (SPMJ) - Dato' (1971)
  • Kelantan**:
    • Recipient of the Order of the Most Distinguished and Most Valiant Warrior (PYGP) (1985)
  • Pahang**:
    • Grand Knight of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP) - Dato, later Dato' Indera (1972)
  • Selangor**:
    • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (SPMS) - Dato' Seri (1980)
  • Kedah**:
    • Knight Grand Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal House of Kedah (SSDK) - Dato' Seri
    • Knight Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of the Crown of Kedah (SPMK) - Dato' Seri
  • Perlis**:
    • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Perlis (SPMP) - Dato' Seri (1979)
  • Sabah**:
    • Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) - Datuk Seri Panglima