The Rt. Hon. Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg was appointed as the sixth Chief Minister of Sarawak on 13th January 2017. He is the youngest son of the first Governor of Sarawak, the late Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg bin Abang Sapiee
Born in Limbang on 4th August 1950, he obtained his Masters of Business Management from Brunnel University in the United Kingdom. He received his early education at Sekolah Rendah Merpati Jepang in Kuching and later at St. Joseph’s School, also in Kuching.
He entered politics in 1977 as Parti Pesaka Bumiputra (PBB) youth leader and was first elected to the State Legislative Assembly when he won the Satok seat in 1981. In 1982, he was appointed as the Chief Political Secretary to the Chief Minister. After the state elections in 1983, he was appointed to the post of Assistant Minister of Regional and Community Development.
After winning the Satok state seat again in 1987, he became Minister of Industrial Development and a member of the State Cabinet. In 2000, he was appointed as the Minister of Tourism before being given the portfolio of the Minister of Housing in 2004 and the Minister of Housing and Urbanisation in 2009.
After retaining the Satok state seat in the 2011 state elections, he became the Minister of Housing and Minister of Tourism. Then in 2016, he was a Deputy Chief Minister and held portfolios of the Minister of Housing and Urbanisation as well as Minister of Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
He has been Member of Dewan Undangan Negeri for Satok for nine consecutive terms: 1981, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016. He was awarded the State Award of Darjah Yang Amat Mulia Datuk Patinggi Bintang Kenyalang (D.P) which carries the title of ‘Datuk Patinggi’ on 9th September 2017, Darjah Utama Yang Amat Mulia Bintang Kenyalang Sarawak (D.A) which carries the title ‘Datuk Amar’ in 2008, Johan Bintang Sarawak (JBS) in 1985, Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak (PNBS) in 1990, Pingat Perkhidmatan Bakti (PPB Perak) in 1988 and Pingat Jubli Emas (Gold) in 2013.
He assumed the posts of President of Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu Sarawak, Chairman of Barisan Nasional Sarawak and Chairman of Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri (MKKN) after being appointed as Chief Minister on 13th January 2017.
He is also the Chairman of Yayasan Sarawak, Chairman of Bintulu Development Authority (BDA), Chairman of the State Planning Authority (SPA), Chairman of Sarawak Higher Education Fund (SHEF), Chairman of Sarawak State Mineral Authority (SSMA), Chairman of the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), Chairman of Sarawak Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) and Chairman of Sarawak Mosques Trust Board.
Since 2009, he’s been the President of Saberkas.