KUCHING: Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud has been sworn in as Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri for a third term following his reappointment by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

       He took the oath of office at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly's Dewan Lapau here on Tuesday (Mar 1) in front of Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim.

       Earlier, he inspected a guard of honour mounted by the 10th Battalion General Operations Force.

       Also present were Taib's wife Toh Puan Raghad Kurdi Taib, Abang Johari's wife Puan Sri Juma'ani Tuanku Bujang, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah and State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion.

       Taib, 85, was reappointed as Head of State for another two years by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

       He received the instrument of appointment from the King at Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur on Monday (Feb 28).

       Taib was previously Sarawak's longest-serving chief minister from 1981 to 2014.

       He became the seventh Head of State on March 1, 2014, succeeding Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng.

       His term was extended for another four years in 2018.