Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, 74, has married a Lebanese woman whose age has been reported by some news media to be 28. But conflicting reports from other media put the bride�s age to be the early 30s.

The wedding ceremony, which took place last night, was a closely guarded affair.

The akad nikah started at about 8pm at the chief minister�s residence, Demak Jaya, in Petra Jaya, Kuching. Family members, relatives, close friends of the couple and several members of the state cabinet were present.

It was solemnised by Sarawak Mufti Kipli Yassin at about 9.30 pm, followed by a short bersanding session.

Among the 200 guests attending the ceremony were Adviser to the Chief Minister’s Office Tan Sri Adenan Satem, Second Planning and Resource Management State Minister Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Naroden Majais, Housing and Urban Development Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and Pantai Damai state assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi.

The chief minister’s press secretary, Amin Sahmat, said last night that the wedding was a private affair, adding that an announcement would be made later. He also said a wedding reception would be held next month.

Not much is known about the bride but sources said she was a former flight attendant.

Taib has been single since the death of his wife, Puan Sri Laila, in April last year. They had been married since 1959 and have four children.

Puan Sri Laila Taib

Sarawak has been abuzz over the wedding of Malaysia�s longest-serving chief minister. Taib has been the Chief Minister of Sarawak since 1981. He assumed the post at the age of 45. He is widely known among the Chinese community by his nickname of Peh Mo (meaning white hair in Hokkien).

Apparently, on Friday, Taib visited the grave of his late Polish-born Australian wife Puan Sri Laila, who died of cancer in April last year. The couple was married for 50 years after they met while studying in Australia. They have four children and 15 grandchildren.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan gave credence to the marriage talk earlier yesterday when he told reporters in Miri: �There is a great possibility that the rumour is true.�

Dr Chan is also an in-law to Taib. Tan Sri Sulaiman, Taib�s son, is married to Dr Chan�s daughter Anisa.

Green, Technology and Water Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui said: �It is time for him to remarry. It is not good to be alone, especially a busy person like him. If this rumour is true I am very happy for him.

�It is good to have a woman�s support,�� he added.

Inevitably, Taib�s marriage to a woman so much younger than him has led to sniggers that another Sarawak minister has joined the ranks of �Old Cow Eats Tender Grass��.in this case, tender Lebanese grass.

I went to Kuching on the morning of� April 2 for Ching Ming Festival and returned to Miri last night.� I had an enjoyable three days in Kuching where I stayed with my second brother. My eldest brother flew to Kuching from Miri a day earlier than me. My two brothers, my mum and I talked a lot about our younger days in Bintangor and our family history.

On my first night in Kuching, my second brother treated us to a sumptuous meal at a seafood restaurant. My sister, my brother-in-law and their youngest daughter were there. And I met Pending State Assemblywoman Violet Yong in person for the first time. She was sitting in a table near us and she came over to say hi as she knows my sister well.

Photo of Violet Yong from sarawakupdate.com

We went to our father’s grave at about 7.10 am on� April 3. We did the customary chores of cleaning up the tombstone and removing the weeds. My sister even bought 2 paper shirts and a pair of paper sports shoes for my dad. My sister said she wanted to encourage my dad to exercise in the other world, haha!

Some time around noon on April 3, my friend John Wong came to pick me to meet up with another ex-schoolmate Goh Leng Yew. We had a simple nice lunch by the poolside at Sarawak Club. We shared our experiences, reminisced about my time at Kolej Tuanku Bujang in Miri, exchanged news about other schoolmates of ours. John is a mechanical engineer attached to JKR while Goh is a successful businessman who owns an engineering consultancy firm and a� mineral water factory in Kuching. Leng Yew, thanks for the treat! And John, thank you too for always finding time to meet up with me whenever I am in Kuching.

When John sent me back to my brother’s house, I met my grand nephew Derek Cheu for the first time.� Derek is the son of my niece Angel Lim (my second brother’s daughter). He is such a cute baby who is not shy of strangers. He didn’t mind at all when I carried him.

Little Derek

That night, my sister and my brother-in-law treated us to another sumptuous dinner at a Chinese restaurant.� I met my grand niece Janice again…she has grown a lot since I last saw her almost a year ago. She is such a smart little girl. Though she is not even three, she can speak and sing very well. Now that I have a grand nephew and 2 grand nieces, it is a sure sign that I am� getting old!

My sister and her granddaughter Janice

My second brother and his grandson Derek

After dinner, we went to my sister’s house to watch the Manchester United-Chelsea clash. Oh, it was so disappointing to see MU lose due to a controversial offside goal. MU’s hope of retaining the English Premier League championship has been very seriously dented now, thanks to the linesman.

My good friend Poh Ted Ang dropped by my sister’s house to pick me up for a chit-chat. He decided to go to Oriental Pearl Reflexology for a one-hour reflexology session. By the way, before you start jumping to the wrong conclusion, this reflexology outlet offers genuine reflexology and not what some of you may be thinking. We were each served by a male masseur from China. The masseur put a basin of hot water containing some herbs in front of me and asked me to immerse my legs in the water. The water was quite hot and I instinctively recoiled with shock when I put my legs into the water, haha! The masseur started by massaging my neck and shoulders. Oh gosh! There were times that I felt like screaming in pain! But I know that if I can endure the pain, I will feel so much better once it is over.� When the session was over, I really felt very relaxed. Thank you for picking up the tab, Ted Ang!

Yesterday morning, my eldest brother and I went shopping for butter cakes and “kompian”. I bought several butter cakes at the Mita Cake House at Satok. The shop was enjoying brisk business when I popped into the shop. Its butter cakes are tasty as they use a lot of butter unlike a lot of other cake shops that scrimp on butter when making cakes. After that, we went to buy the Foochow delicacy “kompian”.

Yesterday afternoon, as I had to meet someone near Sunny Hill Ice-cream, I thought of tasting the famous Sunny Hill ice-cream. But there was a queue of people waiting to be served and the queue was moving at such a slow pace. I gave up� and went back to my brother’s house after meeting the person that I had an appointment with.I guess I will try the next time I am in Kuching as my brother’s house is quite near Sunny Hill Ice Cream.

The slow-moving queue at Sunny Hill Ice Cream

I left Kuching at about 7.40pm and arrived back in Miri at about 8.35 pm. Being rather tired, I retired to bed after a quick dinner of “char kuay teow” that I had bought at Pelita Commercial Center on the way from the airport to my house. I think I was sound asleep within a few minutes after hitting the bed!

It’s Saturday night. I got back back from Kuching about 3 hours ago. My wife and I flew to Kuching on June 25 to attend the wedding of my niece, Dr Angel Lim. The last two days had been a flurry of activities and had been quite tiring but it was really great to be able to attend Angel’s wedding.� Angel is the second daughter of my brother Kiong and she is a doctor. Her husband is Dr Bernard Cheu, an orthopaedics specialist doctor.

My brother and my sister-in-law hosted the wedding dinner reception at Asajaya Hall of the Grand Margherita Hotel (the former Holiday Inn) on June 25. There was almost a full turnout of invited guests and the hall was packed. It was really a joyous occasion for us all!

Wedding day was June 26. We had to get up at about 5 am to go to my brother’s house. My wife and I were staying with my sister.� We had a lot of fun in my brother’s house when Bernard came to fetch Angel.� Please see the photos below.

The church wedding was held at St Joseph’s Cathedral on June 26. This was the first time I have ever attended a wedding ceremony in a Catholic church so it was an eye-opener for me.

Bernard and Angel came back to my brother’s house in the afternoon and were served “mee sua” by Angel’s mum. This was followed by a tea ceremony.

The wedding dinner reception hosted by Bernard’s parents was held at Hilton Hotel. It was another joyful evening and the food was sumptuous.

I dedicate this poem by poet Christopher Robin to Angel and Bernard:

As you start out today, joined as one together

We wish your hearts soar, fly on Angel’s wings

Pleasure fulfilment, endless joy, contentment

As perfect a Marriage, that anyone yet so brings

May you find everyday, sweetly lying awaiting

All you’re dearest, sweetest; dreams yet come true

While sharing a lifetime jointly, forever on today

May endless happiness ever pursue the two of you

To the sweetest ever, very happy, perfect couple

Perfect wishes we relay, on your wedding day

May love happiness joy prosperity and harmony

Ever sweetly surround you both, forever we relay

I pray that God will shower the two of you with an abundance of blessings in all areas of your life. Yes, may you be blessed!

Angel & Bernard Arriving At The Asajaya Hall

Angel & Bernard Seated At Their Table

First Dish of The Night

Bernard popping champagne flanked by his parents and Angel's parents

Yamseng!

The Happy Couple Cutting Cake

Photo Session With Parents After The Dinner

The Happy Couple With My Mum (Angel's grandma)

Photo of Angel With Her Parents On Wedding Day

Angel Serving Tea To Her Grandma

Angel Hugging Her Grandma After Serving Tea

Angel Serving Tea To Her Dad

Angel Kissing Her Dad After Serving Him Tea

Angel Serving Tea To Her Mum

Angel Hugging Her Mum After Serving Her Tea

Angel's Parents Putting On Veil For Angel

Arrival of Bernard and his entourage

Angel's brother Leroy opening the door for Bernard

Bernard Awaiting Permission To Enter The House...He Had To Shout His Proclamation of Love So That Angel Can Hear From Her Room Upstairs

Bernard Awaiting Permission To Enter Angel's Room

Bernard Given The Task of Identifying Angel's Lipstick Marks From A piece of Paper With7 Sets of Lipstick Marks. Bernard got it right on his ..............7th attempt....lol!!

Angel's Parents Handing Over Angel to Bernard

This is fun....that young girl with the hen in her hands is my niece and the young man with the cockerel in his hands is Bernard's cousin....they had to make hen and cockerel sounds as they led the newly-weds out of my brother's house

The Happy Couple Leaving My Brother's House

Angel Arriving At The St Joseph's Cathedral

My brother leading Angel down the church's aisle

My brother handing Angel to Bernard

Ring Exchange Ceremony

You may kiss the bride

Signing the marriage certificate

The newly-weds leaving the church after the church service

Angel.....how aptly named!

What an angelic-looking bride!

Beautiful Angel & Suave Bernard preparing to leave the church

Bernard serving Angel a piece of cake his way at the Hilton reception hosted by Bernard's parents

The happy couple on stage

Angel, Bernard and their families "yamseng" to the invited guests

The MC for the night played a joked on the couple...the couple were supposed to kiss for a countdown to 10 but the countdown took quite a long time and the couple had to comply!

Aren't they cute? This photo was taken by the wedding photography studio's professional photographer

Another beautiful photo taken by the studio

Isn't she lovely? Another of the photos taken by the studio

The happy couple in Chinese wedding attire