After heading Sarawak for 33 years, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud today has handed in his resignation letter from his Chief Minister's post.

His resignation is to take effect on Feb 28.

Taib has named his advisor Tan Sri Adenan Satem as his successor who will be sworn in on March 1 as the state's fifth Chief Minister.

The resignation letter was handed to the Yang di-Pertuan Negeri Sarawak, Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng during a 3.30pm meeting at Astana Negeri.

The meeting was also attended by the leadership of the Sarawak Barisan Nasional component parties.

Taib will also step down as Balingian state assemblyman and the candidate to contest the seat will be decided by the new Chief Minister.

In a press conference following his audience with the Sarawak Head of State, Abdul Taib said that he was pleased that his resignation process and the naming of his successor went smoothly.

"I am happy everything went smoothly. My fellow leaders know why I have resigned," said Abdul Taib.

"Adenan represents a kind of agreement between the three candidates (mentioned to succeed Taib as the Chief Minister," Taib was quoted as saying in a Bernama report.

The other two candidates were PBB deputy president Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and
Senior Vice President Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is scheduled to meet all Barisan Nasional component parties in Sarawak tonight.

Muhyiddin is to meet Abdul Taib tomorrow morning.