KUANTAN: Former Pahang menteri besar Tan Sri Adnan Yaakob brought the curtains down on his political career yesterday, announcing that he was retiring from politics.
The eight-term Pelangai assemblyman was the 14th menteri besar, a position he served for four terms between May 25, 1999 and May 15, 2018.
During the Pahang state assembly winding-up speech at Wisma Sri Pahang yesterday, Adnan was quoted by the Pahang Communications and Media Unit news portal as saying the trust to lead the people for eight terms had allowed him to serve as menteri besar for 19 years.
"We are all aware that the Pahang state assembly will be dissolved soon and I consider this to be my last speech in the hall before I retire after serving as a state assemblyman for 36 years, two months and seven days till today (yesterday), and menteri besar for 19 years," he said.
The Bentong Umno division chief recorded his appreciation and gratitude to all quarters who had been together with him during his time in office.
Meanwhile, Adnan said he was grateful that Pahang was currently under the commendable leadership of his successor to help continue the legacy of assisting the people.
"Pahang is fortunate to get Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, a Lipis-born leader, to be the menteri besar. Besides his experience and qualifications, he is someone who is not emotional, does not get angry and is not easily overexcited.
"I hope he will be able to continue his excellent service and I am proud of his ability to improve and introduce new measures with the assistance of the state leadership. I believe Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy is able to lead Barisan Nasional (BN) in the general election and InsyaAllah (God willing), form the Pahang government," he said.
Adnan was picked to contest the Pelangai state seat in the Bentong parliamentary constituency in 1986. He was appointed menteri besar in 1999, replacing Tun Khalil Yaakob.
In 2016, Adnan said he was considering retirement and might not contest in the 14th General Election (GE14) but later led Pahang to victory in the 2018 general election, when BN won only two states — Pahang and Perlis.
Adnan, often described as a well respected leader with a relaxed personality, did create some headlines during his tenure. He once stunned the state assembly by taking off his shoes and lifting one of his legs to his face.
He placed a pen between his toes and asked if anyone else in the house could perform a similar act. Adnan later explained that his act was to show that he was still in good health.
In April 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Adnan turned up at the state assembly's one-day sitting wearing a pink and blue respirator while others were wearing ordinary surgical masks.