Anti-Taib activists take complaints to Agong

The Movement for Change Sarawak (MoCS) has sought royal intervention into its complaints against Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Its representatives submitted a memorandum at the national palace this morning, petitioning for pressure on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in its ongoing probe against Taib for alleged corrupt practice.

The movement also called on the Agong to reject any future move to appoint Taib as governor of the state.

Francis Paul Siah, Ahmad Azizan Abdul Manan, Awang Abdillah Nasar, Ronald Sia and Erick anak Nicholas Mujah signed the memorandum, which was handed over at the main gate of the palace, through a General Operations Force officer.

More than 30 uniformed and plainclothes police personnel were observed in the vicinity, with some taking photographs or video-taping the event.

The memorandum listed various graft allegations that have been widely reported on Internet news portals and blogs, both locally and overseas.

On March 4, the MoCS had demanded that the MACC office in Kuching conducts an immediate investigation into the allegations against Taib.

The demand was endorsed by three Pakatan Rakyat parties in Sarawak - DAP, PKR and PAS - and several NGOs.

"MoCS subsequently submitted the same demand to the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya on March 30," the movement said in a statement today.

Until today, it noted, the anti-graft body had yet to reveal the status of its investigations.

"MoCS demands that the details of the probe, if any, be made public," the statement says.

Swiss president moves probe on Taib

The MoCs also revealed that Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey has forwarded information about Taib's assets in Switzerland to its regulatory body, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, for investigation.

“It must be noted that most of the allegations of corruption against the chief minister have documentary proof. There was overwhelming evidence put forth by Sarawak Report, the Bruno Manser Fund and a number of other whistleblowers.”

“In view of the serious allegations of corruption and abuse of power allegedly committed by Taib, we also appeal to His Majesty (the King) not to accept any future recommendation for Taib to be appointed the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak,” the statement says.

“The people of Sarawak would be greatly insulted to have a head of state who has been accused of gross corruption and widespread theft of people's lands and state resources.”

It said today's handover was part of 'Operation Taibetes', a three-month long campaign by MoCS to help rid the country's biggest state of the “Taib disease”, which has ravaged Sarawak for the past 30 years.

“Taib must go! 11 months ago, on Sept 16, 2010, MoCS gave Taib till Aug 13 this year to leave office. From today, June 13 we wish to remind Taib that he has two more months to vacate his office.

“Despite Taib and police harrassment against MoCS in Sarawak, we wish to inform all concerned Sarawakians and Malaysians who care and love their state and nation that MoCS will soldier on in its agenda for change and reform in Sarawak.”