The Sarawak election results have come and gone. It has not been able to change the power equation in the state which has for so long been under the control of Taib Mahmud. A combination of dirty tricks and the well-honed BN election firepower of goodies, spin and support from public and private sector bodies, including those that are supposed to be neutral stake players, helped ensure the victory. What lies ahead for the Chief Minister and his state?
During his three decades of rule, Taib – together with members of his extended family – amassed an enormous fortune whilst the great majority of the population sank further into poverty. Several years ago, Transparency International in its Global Corruption Report named 10 of the world’s most corrupt leaders, “whose corruption has contributed to their countries’ low economic status, placing them among the poorest on the planet” (Forbes magazine). At that time, Taib Mahmud’s name did not appear on the list.
If that roll of dishonour were to be updated today, could Taib’s name appear on the list as predicted by some observers? Some of his defenders – and there are very few even amongst hardcore BN supporters – may argue that the allegations of the size of his fortune have been overestimated. The onus, if Taib is to silence his detractors, is on him and his family to open the books on the family fortune and to account for the alleged torrent of millions that has flowed into the bank accounts and other assets under the Taib family name and proxies since he assumed the position of chief minister.
Recently, clues to the enormous size of the Taib family wealth emerged when Taib’s daughter-in-law (left) filed a RM400 million (US$132 million) claim on her estranged husband in court, including what she claims is her share of property worth RM300 million. That case is unlikely to see any further development since Taib’s son, Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib, apparently is looking for an out-of-court settlement to avoid public scrutiny into how the family gained such wealth.
Even if the extent of the Taib, et al, fortune has been over-estimated, what is perhaps most striking is that the fortune has been amassed from Taib’s political position as chief minister of one of the states of the country. Compare this with the other names that appear on the Forbes list I cited above. Suharto, Marcos, Mobutu, Abacha, Milosevic, Duvalier and others – these are leaders of entire countries, not of just one state within a country.
There are several concerns that arise from the unusual appearance of a state (not national) political leader in the list of fabulously rich political leaders. One is that if the reports of the wealth of just one chief minister were true, what does it say about the total amount of wealth accumulated by the other state leaders in Malaysia?
The second is that it shows that Taib’s financial vacuum machine must have been extremely extensive and efficient. A recent article in the blogsite Sarawak Headhunter provides in-depth details into what is alleged to be the 10 incomes stream of the Chief Minister. These include:
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Income from timber licences
Surcharge on timber exports
Kickbacks from timber shipping companies
Agency and other fees levied on shipping companies
Privatization of government companies
Illegal logging receipts
Federal government contracts
Alienation of state land to plantations
State contracts
Source: Sarawak Headhunter
The Chief Minister has refuted these claims and in defence has argued that that his daughter’s property empire in Canada and the UK was amassed through the daughter and son-in-law’s business acumen in investing wisely the gratuity which Taib earned from his earlier service in the federal government. This story of parental love and prudent and profitable financial investment is very touching. It may very well be true but it needs to be substantiated by an opening of the financial records and bank accounts of the family and the companies the family owns or controls in Malaysia and abroad so that Malaysians can determine the truth of the charges and allegations of financial and political impropriety and abuses hurled against the Chief Minister.
Today, in Egypt, as part of the measures to wipe out corruption and to transform the country, the provisional government has begun an investigation into how Mubarak amassed his wealth. A judicial commission has been appointed to investigate not only Mubarak but also his wife Suzanne and his two sons and their wives. In the meantime, the Mubarak family has been banned from travelling abroad and their assets have been frozen. Several Ministers, officials and former members of the National Democratic Party (the overthrown ruling party) have also been banned from leaving the country pending further investigations.
No Malaysian will begrudge the Chief Minister and his family members if their personal fortune is due to honest savings and far-sighted investments and not due to illicitly accumulated wealth. However, to stop the tongues wagging and to silence the critics once and for all, the federal government needs to undertake a similar investigation into the Taib family wealth along the lines of what is taking place in Egypt with the investigation of the Mubarak family wealth.
This election outcome – the public investigation of the Taib family wealth – would be the more significant one for the nation to celebrate.
#1 by buy election on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 - 11:06 am
How do we know that UMNO politicians did not rob as much wealth as Taib? I think they are no better than each other.
MACC would not be able to investigate or arrest Taib. Taib can use the immigration law to stop them from entering Sarawak.
In fact Najib came to drop more money during election. Overall, the UMNO politicians are more corrupted than Taib. Taib did not use sexual tactics to play down the opponents, so he may be not as bad as UMNO politicians. Taib also did not use the Kris…..the more I write, I may start to love Taib.
Najib better appoint Taib as his deputy. Taib is needed in keeping Najib and UMNO alive
#2 by k1980 on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 - 11:22 am
//their personal fortune is due to honest savings and far-sighted investments and not due to illicitly accumulated wealth. //
Yeah, tell that to Mubarak, Gaddafi and Ben Ali and they will laugh till that backsides split.
#3 by tak tahan on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 - 11:53 am
That’s the problem with a bunch fool of short-sighted people who can’t see and think for themselves.Can’t they see Taib arrived with rolls-royce and don’t they ask how much that car and many others belong to him cost or how could he and his family afford to stay in palatials.Or are they such short-sighted that they could only be able to see bread and butter on the table right in front of their very noses.Or are they in total oblivion and assuming living in homogeneous society,no matter how corrupt or evil Taib is,he is the only savior to them.
#4 by dagen on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 - 11:57 am
Asking a thief to go after a thief, my friend?
#5 by dcasey on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 - 12:14 pm
The thieves in Malaysia are very unique and is the only one of its kind in this world. They created an exclusive club, one with an inner-most core called dumno and an outer shell called Be-End. This club evolved over decades and managed to brainwashed its ordinary members to be subservient lap-dogs. The phenominon is best described by Richard Loh as follows: “They will only listen to their masters who have controlled them for over 40 years and will growl and bite anyone else that come near them. Even if they are being tortured, denied their food, basic amenities and land, they will still go back to their masters after been given small pep talks (with some threats) and a little incentives better than the usual, thrown in.” There you go Malaysia…the real reason why the Chinese in Malaysia are resolute in standing firm against associating itself from this club of robbers and thieves. But then again, it’s not just the Chinese but also right thinking Malays and Indians too. But isn’t that supposed to be what righteous and responsible citizens of a country ought to be doing?
#6 by dcasey on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 - 12:22 pm
The thieves in Malaysia are very unique and is the only one of its kind in this world. They created an exclusive club, one with an inner-most core of one race and an outer shell occupied by the so-called other races. This club evolved over decades and managed to brainwashed its ordinary members to be subservient to the inner core. The phenomenon is best described by Richard Loh as follows: “They will only listen to their masters who have controlled them for over 40 years and will growl and bite anyone else that come near them. Even if they are being tortured, denied their food, basic amenities and land, they will still go back to their masters after been given small pep talks (with some threats) and a little incentives better than the usual, thrown in.” There you go Malaysia…the inconvenient truth.
#7 by ch on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 - 12:48 pm
Dear All,
Let us reconcile with the fact that regardless the amount of bribes thrown out by BN, the fact was majority of Sarawakians went for BN. I subscribe to the belief that if you hate the government or party no amount of money would be able to bribe your mind. Hence I believe the hatred for BN among the Sarawakians have not reach the boiling point to the extent they want to overthrow the government. DAP was the star performer in the recently concluded Sarawak election as the Chinese and slightly more non-Chinese went for them. PKR was indeed the star loser as they had failed to garner substantial seats despite going for the bulk of them.
We have so many people condemning the government and BN. The voices of these people can be heard loud and clear every where, at coffee shops, offices, schools but yet their voices were soft and meek during elections. But then again, the Chinese were the daring lot this time around and should this trend continues, MCA, Gerakan and SUPP will soon be consigned to only the history books.
Be that as it may, let us be known that UMNO-BN will not just sleep and idle by letting this to happen. The election machinery of the government parties are much organized, strong and effective compared to Pakatan’s.
The truth hurts but Pakatan is yet ready to take on the pinnacle pedestal of Malaysia going by its current set-up.
#8 by boh-liao on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 - 12:50 pm
No way lah, winners sapu all; NR’s motto is I help U, U help me, NOT I investigate U, nanti U investigate me, where got such thing 1; even a small fry like Baginda oredi sapu big big
#9 by undertaker888 on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 - 1:04 pm
but according to mamaktahi,
fighting against graft is racist
asking for better judiciary is racist
asking for better education is racist
asking for equal opportunity is racist
asking for basic rights is racist
asking for a better government is racist
if that all is racist, what is mamaktahi then?
#10 by hallo on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 - 1:45 pm
Most possibly the mama worry scare he may go to jail.
Most possibly all of you know how the feel if person in that situation.
#11 by Godfather on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 - 1:47 pm
We are wasting our time – and even worse, we are wasting taxpayers’ money to “investigate” corruption in Bolehland. Corruption here is so institutionalised with the BN’s “I help you, you help me” motto that no one will investigate Taib for fear of getting heat on himself/herself.
We have so many corruption allegations that go uninvestigated. Those who are brought to court are never successful (except, perhaps for the ikan bilis, like the NS Adun found guilty of a RM 2,000 offence). Tamby Chik, Mike Tyson, Toyol, Azalina – all these are swept under the carpet because the code of honour amongst thieves is that thou shall not tell.
If the rakyat rachets up the heat on the authorities, like in the PKFZ case, only then will there will be charges laid against some politicians, but the end result is the same – they will either be found innocent or they will get a fine that is small potatoes compared to the amounts embezzled.
Corruption is institutionalised and can only be brought to an end by a regime change. Thieves don’t reform themselves – especially if they don’t need to.
#12 by tak tahan on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 - 1:50 pm
If you read the other way what mostly mamaktahi said,that could be the truth.In other words he is the real racist,father of racist.He is gone case and not worth to take him seriously as well as his thoughts and speeches.He is desperately trying to save him and family from prosecution if opposition captured Putrajaya.Hence,goes out all his spins,lies and race polarization from his fork-tongue and evil mind.
#13 by k1980 on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 - 2:27 pm
GEORGE TOWN, April 19 — Youth and Sports Ministry deputy secretary-general Salim Parlan was charged today with committing khalwat over the weekend. It is understood that he committed the offence with his personal assistant when they were discovered by the state religious authorities.
Did he corruptly abuse his position to coerce his personal assistant into the act? This is much more serious than the Datuk T sex tape, for it involves corruption. Why no RCI on this one, jib? Is it because he is from umno?
#14 by johnnypok on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 - 2:53 pm
makak was exceptionally quiet this time … i thot he was kicking the bucket … or in the icu
… maybe he is waiting for pek mo … sama sama pergi
#15 by k1980 on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 - 3:16 pm
http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/media/k2/items/cache/9b1083fa843a33613ae79ba4dc492200_M.jpg
Oh no! he has converted to sikhism and now goes by the name of Hatir Singh!
#16 by Loh on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 - 8:11 pm
Taib has no oil revenue to pursue and so he had to go local to the extent of hurting the environment. Taib should have taken Sarawak out of Malaysia. We would be better off without Taib providing UMNO fixed deposit.