Tawi Sli

Dato' Sri Penghulu Tawi Sli (12 June 1912 – 22 December 1987 ) was the second chief minister of Sarawak.

Personal life and education Tawi Sli was born in Banting, Lingga, Sri Aman, Sarawak. He hailed from an Anglican family. He received his formal education at St. Thomas school in Kuching until Form 3.

Early career After school, Tawi Sli worked as a teacher in a mission school while undergoing a three-year training programme to become a pastor. He served as a clerk with the government before he retired in 1961. Tawi Sli immediately appoint five members into his Supreme Council (equivalent to Sarawak cabinet today) namely: Abdul Taib Mahmud, and Awang Hipni from BARJASA, Umpau and Laing from PESAKA, and Abang Haji Abdul Rahman from PANAS. Two months later, Teo Kui Seng and Ling Beng Siong from SCA were appointed to Supreme Council. Meanwhile, Taib Mahmud became the deputy chief minister and minister of development and forestry. Ningkan's SNAP party withdrew from the Sarawak Alliance. Abdul Rahman Ya'kub retained his federal minister post. Taib Mahmud, Abang Haji Abdul Rahman, and Thomas Kana became advisors for Tawi Sli.

Ningkan tried to initiate a dissolution of the state assembly upon his reinstatement. However, the federal government declared state of emergency on 15 September, citing chaos in the state. The federal government then unilaterally amended the Sarawak Constitution to give the power to the state's governor to commence the Council Negri meeting.

Later life He retired from politics in 1974 and later was involved in business until his death in 1987. His wife, Datin Sri Dorothy Inti, died in April 2015.