KUCHING, June 22 — The Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is "well and in good stead”, Astana Negeri Sarawak said in a statement today to refute rumours on the condition of the Head of State.

"We would like to assure that all viralled and unverified news, which are not from Astana Negeri Sarawak regarding the wellbeing of Tun in social media platforms are completely fake and untrue.

"We hope that with this press statement, all adverse reports and rumours regarding Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud would be put to rest,” the statement read.

Over the last two days, there has been intense speculation about Taib’s health after a blog claimed that he was forced to abort a flight abroad and was admitted in a hospital here.

Taib, who was chief minister from March 26, 1981 to February 28, 2014, was appointed the Head of State on March 1, 2014.

He is 87 years old. — Borneo Post