Barisan Nasional secretary-general Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad slipped quietly into Kuching yesterday on a half-day visit to meet Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud who underwent a surgery in Singapore to remove a tumour.

Radzi, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, was believed to have delivered an 'urgent and important message' personally from Prime Minister and BN chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. He was accompanied by BN executive secretary Senator Yaakob Mohammad.

A local English daily Sarawak Tribune was the only paper to publish a picture of the 'courtesy call' by the duo on the chief minister at his residence in Demak Laut, Kuching.

Taib's press aides told the paper there would be no interview but allowed only pictures to be taken of the meeting at which a senior Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) leader and state Planning and Resource Management Minister Awang Tengah Ali Hasan was also present.

Sarawak National Party (Snap) deputy president Justine Jinggut told malaysiakini that since it was a meeting only with Taib he believed Radzi must have delivered 'some urgent and important message' from either Pak Lah or his deputy Najib Tun Razak for the chief minister.

"Apart from enquiring on his health and to offer condolences on the demise of his late mother Hamidah who passed away last week, one can only guess that the message is of a personal nature that may have something to do with whether he needs to take a long rest after the operation," he added.

Radzi did not meet other state BN leaders during the short visit.

Long leave

On his return from Singapore earlier this week, Taib said doctors had given him a clean bill of health and he was ready to go back to work. One of his major tasks was to chair a state cabinet meeting after which he received Radzi and Yaakob in his residence.

Reporters covering Taib's return from operation were also told not to ask political questions.

With Taib's health a question mark now, there is speculation that he may make an exit from politics sooner than expected, probably within the next few months, if he needs to receive medical treatment.

Several names have surfaced again as likely to take over as acting Chief Minister after the next state elections to allow him to go on long leave for rest. PBB deouty president and Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu, PBB deputy president and state Housing Minister Abang Johari Openg (right), Natural Resources and Environment Minister Adenan Satem and even former Agriculture Minister Effendi Norwawi.

Awang Tengah, who is PBB treasurer and a close confidente of Taib, has also been mentioned as a dark horse.