Taib Mahmud, Malaysian Tycoon Linked to Logging, Dies at 87
- Led biggest state, resource-rich Sarawak, for 33 years
- Under his rule, rainforests gave way to palm oil plantations
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Taib Mahmud, the politician and tycoon who became known for enabling the destruction of rainforests in Malaysia’s biggest state in pursuit of economic development, has passed away due to illness. He was 87.
Taib died in a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday after a prolonged illness, his daughter Hanifah Hajar Taib said in a Facebook post. Taib had retired from public life last month, ending his 10-year tenure as Sarawak’s governor.