Sarawak's long-serving chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud is not about to step down from his post any time soon, judging from the latest comments on the matter.

The 69-year-old politician, who celebrated his 24th anniversary in power at a dinner on Saturday, said he would definitely lead the Barisan Nasional coalition in the state polls due next November.

In a special anniversary interview, Taib said he thought of retiring four years ago but 'friends still wanted me to carry on'.

Speaking at the dinner, Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu said Sarawak still needed Taib's leadership as it is vital in achieving greater progress.

Jabu is also deputy president of the Taib-led Parti Pesaka-Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB).

The state's other Deputy Chief Minister Dr George Chan said even the opposition has acknowledged Taib's sterling leadership and immense contributions to the development of the state.

Chan, who heads the Chinese-based Sarawak United People's Party (Supp), said in the past 24 years Taib had overcome numerous challenges, consolidated and strengthened his leadership to the point that it is 'appreciated, respected and emulated, including by those in the cabinet, the second echelon of leaders and even the opposition.'

He added that under Taib, Sarawak progressed 'by leaps and bounds', with per capita income in the state (RM18,346) being among the highest in Malaysia .

Poverty rate had also gone down from nearly 50 percent decades ago to about three percent this year, the deputy chief minister noted.

'Brilliant strategist'

Earlier, Jabu hailed the chief minister as 'a brilliant political strategist for being able to quell political squabbles in the past.'

"Now nobody wants to quarrel because Taib has laid a strong foundation for everyone to share power," he said.

Meanwhile, the chief minister attributed his success in running the state for more than two decades to 'strong teamwork', which he described as an evolving political culture in Sarawak.

"What Sarawak has achieved in one generation (is) everyone has enough food to eat, clothes to wear and the mobility to move. It shows our people can stand on their own feet and be independent," he said.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini's Sarawak-based stringer.