Several Sarawak leaders have expressed confidence that incoming chief minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem will emulate the good work carried out by outgoing Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Abdul Taib retires by the end of the month.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu said Adenan, 70, would still be able to command the team built by Abdul Taib over the years to continue with the Sarawak agenda of development.

"I'm very happy to support Tan Sri Adenan who has been given the mandate to see the programme through, and what is planned in Sarawak will be implemented," he told reporters here, Wednesday.

He said the state cabinet would continue to work as a team for the prosperity of the state.

Meanwhile, state second minister of finance Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh said Abdul Taib had left behind very good fundamentals for Adenan to build upon and lead the people.

Sarawak Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing said the Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) was foreseen to face tough challenges over the next two-and-a-half years and needed a capable leader to continue leading the people.

He said Adenan was a good choice to keep the coalition government in shape to face the challenges and enable BN to win in the coming state election.