"This book makes an important contribution to understanding the ongoing political evolution of politics in Sarawak. It also provides a case study of the engagement of a dominant state with social forces in a multi-ethnic society." - Prof Harold Crouch, Emeritus Professor, Department of Political & Social Change, School of International, Political & Strategic Studies, Australian National University "Taking off from Joel Migdal's notions of 'the strongman-politician’, 'strong society, weak state' and 'the state in society', the author discusses how the federal government accomodates Taib Mahmud's chief ministership over Sarawak, and how his long tenure is anchored in winning political support from the Sarawak Muslim Bumiputera community. An insightful book on contemporary Sarawak politics." - Prof Francis Loh Kok Wah, School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. "This volume will go a long way in explaining why a single Melanau family has been able to dominate Sarawak politics for the past four decades." - Prof James Chin, Head of School of Arts and Social Sciences, Monash University, Malaysia Campus