Abdul Rahman Ya'kub

He is also an uncle of Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, since his (Taib's) mother Hajah Hamidah Ya'akub (1916–2006) was his (Rahman's) eldest-born sibling.

Tun Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Rahman bin Ya'kub (عبدالرحمن بن يعقوب; 3 January 1928 – 9 January 2015) was a Malaysian politician of Melanau descent from Mukah.

He was the third Chief Minister of Sarawak and the fourth Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak (Governor of Sarawak).

Abdul Rahman bin Ya'kub was born in the village of Kampung Jepak, Bintulu, Sarawak on 3 January 1928 to a fisherman by the name of Tuan Wan Ya'kub bin Wan Yusuf and Siti Hajar binti Haji Mohd Tahir who was a housewife.

Rahman's family left Bintulu and headed for Miri, hoping to gain access for better education.

Rahman first attended a Malay school and then the Sekolah Anchi in Miri.

His father, who wished that Abdul Rahman bin Ya'kub be given an Islamic education, attempted to send him to the Aljunied Arabic School in 1939, a decision that was opposed by his mother due to the outbreak of World War II.

He then transferred to St. Joseph Miri, but his studies was cut short by the Japanese invasion.

At a young age, he learnt the Japanese martial art Aikido and was able to also meet Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido.

Due to financial constraints, Rahman had to leave school in 1947 and worked as an oil-tester for the Sarawak Shell Company in Lutong, earning RM 2 daily.

Not satisfied with his earnings, Abdul Rahman went to Sarawak General Hospital, thinking that he would supervise other workers.

However, he ended up sweeping the floor and helping patients instead.

He left the hospital after working just one day.

Abdul Rahman subsequently secured a job as a Student Native Officer.

He was sent to Madrasah Melayu Kuching as a form 3 grader.

In 1948, he was sent to Miri as a Probationary Native Officer and Fourth Class Magistrate.

He stayed in Miri until 1952, mostly doing court works.

In 1952, Rahman was promoted to first class magistrate.

Rahman passed with a Grade Two Certificate at Senior Cambridge examination in the following year.

Rahman was 26 years old when he was accepted into University of Southampton to study law in 1954.

Five years later, he graduated from the university as a trained lawyer and was appointed as Cadet Legal Officer.

He was the first Bumiputera from Sarawak that graduated as a lawyer in 1958 from Lincoln's Inn.

Rahman played a part in the formation of Parti Negara Sarawak (PANAS) and Barisan Ra'ayat Jati Sarawak (BARJASA) by helping in the drafting of constitutions of both parties.

However, Rahman decided to join BARJASA because he opposed Malay aristocrats in PANAS.

He worked as the Deputy Public Prosecutor in the Sarawak Legal Department from 1959 to 1963.

Rahman contested in the 1963 local council elections of Sarawak but was defeated together with his party members such as Ustaz Abdul Kadir Hassan and Suut Haji Tahir.

The Malaysian federal government nominated Abdul Rahman as the first Sarawak chief minister.

However, his nomination was rejected by the Sarawak Alliance which was dominated by Sarawak National Party (SNAP) party that time.

Rahman was appointed by Malaysia federal government as senator in Dewan Negara after he lost during the three-tier 1963 Sarawak district council elections.

He was later appointed as Assistant Federal Minister of National and Rural Development for Sarawak.

The first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman brought Abdul Rahman into politics while the second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak mentor him.

Tunku was satisfied with Abdul Rahman performance as an assistant federal minister.

Abdul Rahman's first wife, Toh Puan Normah died in 1984.

Abdul Rahman's daughter, Khadijah, later married to Tun Abdul Razak's son, Datuk Mohd Nizam.

He even conducted free-religious classes for the public after leaving active politics in 1986.

Datuk Norah Abdul Rahman, who is also her daughter, was a Malaysian Member of Parliament for the Tanjung Manis constituency, from 2008 to 2018.

He then later married Toh Puan Siti Maemunah, and afterwards Toh Puan Hayati Ahmat.

Abdul Rahman bin Ya'kub was very active in sports during his school days, especially football (soccer).

In the later years of his life he also enjoyed playing golf.

Abdul Rahman was a very religious man and loved reading religious books on Islam.