Questions on Taib rejected for ‘no reason’

KUCHING: Will the Sarawak Legislative Assembly ever entertain questions about the international probes on its Chief Minister Taib Mahmud? Not likely, going by the Speaker’s latest rejection.


According to a disappointed Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei, the Speaker had ‘no reason’ to reject his question on the probes carried out by Switzerland, Germany and Australia against Taib.

“My question was directed to the Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office and Minister with Special Functions Adenan Satem in relation to the probes carried out by Switzerland, Germany and Australia on the wealth of the Chief Minister and what measures are being taken by the state government to clear the Chief Minister’s name.

“And this question has been rejected on the reason that I should not mention the name of the person in question.

“In my question, I never mentioned the name of the person. I only mentioned his official position. It is only an excuse to reject my question, there was no reason,” he told FMT, adding that Satem should have been allowed to answer his question.

No talk in parliament either

Wong said it was important that the people are told the developments in relation to the investigation.

“I will raise the issue and the issue of corruption committed by BN leaders in my debate later,” he said, pointing out that he had armed himself with facts and figures of corrupted leaders.
It was reported that the governments of Switzerland, Germany and Australia were investigating Taib’s global links and wealth.

The investigations were instigated by complaints from the Swiss-based Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) which claimed that the Taib’s wealth could be traced back to its origins which was in deforestation activities which had displaced thousands of indigenous Sarawakians.

BMF had identified and blacklisted 49 companies based in eight countries which were linked to Taib and his family.

Sarawak’s two DAP members of parliament, Wong Ho Leng and Chong Chieng Jen had also raised the issue in parliament but to no avail.

Just before the state election in April this year, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had said that it was initiating an investigation into Taib’s wealth.
Until today nothing has been heard of it.