Retired civil servant is new Kuching North mayor

The Star

KUCHING: Retired civil servant Abang Mohd Atei Abang Medaan, 61, has been appointed the new Kuching North mayor for a two-year term.

A former director of the Sarawak Islamic Affairs Department, he took his oath of office in front of Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud Friday.

He said the appointment came as a surprise to him.

“But I’m very lucky because Kuching is a model city,” he told reporters after the ceremony, adding thatt one of his priorities would be to enhance the sense of belonging and spirit of volunteerism among city folk.

Abang Mohd Atei taught at SM Rakyat Tunku Abdul Rahman and the Kuching Vocational School before moving to the state Treasury in 1970.

He also served in the Information Department and the Sarawak Islamic Council. Prior to his retirement on June 26, 2001, he was a special administrative officer in the Chief Minister’s Department.

Meanwhile Taib advised the new mayor to work closely with the people and to be firm but fair in handling problems.

“There will be problems in the city which must be tackled and we expect the mayor to be firm in situations like that. I also expect people in the city to support the mayor,” he said.