BMF offers assistance, evidence of Taib’s alleged corruption

Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud. - file pic

KUCHING, May 17: Non-governmental organisation (NGO) Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) is willing to assist Malaysia’s new government by producing evidence of Sarawak Governor Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s alleged corrupt practices.

In a statement today, BMF said it was willing to “share with the new Malaysian government the results of a seven-year evidence-gathering process on corrupt practices” by Taib.

“We are happy that Prime Minister Mahathir (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) is willing to look into Taib’s corruption again and are hoping that MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) and the Attorney-General’s Chambers will soon be re-opening the Taib case,” said Lukas Straumann, the executive director of BMF in a statement today.

He said the investigation should focus on the allocation of state lands to Taib’s family members and on the Taibs’ unexplained wealth overseas.

According to the statement, in December 2011, an international NGO coalition approached the then Attorney-General, the MACC and the Inspector-General of Police, requesting the arrest and prosecution of thirteen Taib family members for conspiring to steal Sarawak’s state assets and lands. The letter was left unanswered.

The statement also pointed out that in the course of the Stop Timber Corruption campaign, BMF has since 2011 identified over 400 companies in 25 jurisdictions with links to the Taib family. — DayakDaily