Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud will bow out after resolving several administrative and economic matters to ensure continued progress in the state, PBB information chief Adenan Satem said today.

Adenan ( left, shaking hands with Taib ) said that Taib could not step down immediately because that could leave the government in disarray.

taib and adenan staem shaking hands 180305 A smooth and orderly leadership change was essential, he told reporters at his Santubong house near Kuching, commenting on the opposition tactic of harping on Taib's 30-year tenure as chief minister.

He said that there were signs that many Chinese were returning to the BN fold, but the question was whether the number was big enough to help BN to reclaim certain urban areas.

Adenan also said that the visits of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin have had a positive impact on the BN campaign.

On the BN manifesto, Adenan said its strength was in the record of achievements that could be cited and the progress that the coalitiobn could confidently promise.

This was very unlike the opposition, he said, adding: "They will promise the sun and the moon but have no inkling how much "ongkos" (money) it will cost to implement their populist policies."

- Bernama