Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) secretary-general Dr Stephen Rundi has declared that his party boss and Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud is innocent of a series of corruption allegations hurled at him.
“Yes, I believe he is innocent. The charges made against him are mere allegations, unless there is proof to show otherwise,” Rundi (right) told persistent reporters after opening the Sarawak Health, Wellness, Beauty and Hala Expo in Kuching today.
“We should just let the authority concerned (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) conduct the investigations against him,” he said, referring to the MACC's confirmation that it was currently investigating the billionaire chief minister over the series of allegations.
Among the citizens' groups that have lodged reports with the MACC are Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS) and Sarawak PKR, besides a number of individuals.
A series of police reports have also been lodged against Taib.
MACC commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed has confirmed that the commission was gathering information on the allegations.
The Swiss Anti-Corruption Agency recently froze Taib's assets in Switzerland, country over the allegations of corruption against Taib linked to Sarawak multi-billion ringgit timber industry.
According to a foreign news report, Switzerland's President Micheline Calmy-Rey is said to be aware of the allegations and had forwarded the information about Taib's assets in Switzerland to its regulatory body, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, for action.
Rundi said the corruption allegations and the on-going MACC investigation would not affect the state's image in the eyes of the international community.
'We don't prejudge (guilt)'
“We don't prejudge (that Taib is guilty), but we should leave the matter to the authorities to probe,” said Rundi, who is also the state Barisan Nasional secretary-general and assistant minister of environment and public health.
“As of now, we don't have many comments to make on the allegations,” he said.
He said he had read the allegations against Taib on the whistleblower website Sarawak Report, and other websites.
“Well, any such information or allegations are mere allegations until they are proven,” he insisted.
Asked whether the state government was aware of the on-going investigation by the MACC, he said: “It is not a matter of being aware or not. It is the right of the authorities to conduct the investigations.
“Let them investigate... they have the right to investigate if they want to investigate. They have to prove that the allegations are true,” he said.
Rundi was little upset with a reporter who asked whether he or the other state ministers and assistant ministers would cooperate with MACC if asked for their statements to be recorded.
“Are you questioning me now... ? “But of course, we will (cooperate with the MACC),” he said.
“Yes, I believe he is innocent. The charges made against him are mere allegations, unless there is proof to show otherwise,” Rundi (right) told persistent reporters after opening the Sarawak Health, Wellness, Beauty and Hala Expo in Kuching today.“We should just let the authority concerned (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) conduct the investigations against him,” he said, referring to the MACC's confirmation that it was currently investigating the billionaire chief minister over the series of allegations.
Among the citizens' groups that have lodged reports with the MACC are Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS) and Sarawak PKR, besides a number of individuals.
A series of police reports have also been lodged against Taib.
MACC commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed has confirmed that the commission was gathering information on the allegations.
The Swiss Anti-Corruption Agency recently froze Taib's assets in Switzerland, country over the allegations of corruption against Taib linked to Sarawak multi-billion ringgit timber industry.
According to a foreign news report, Switzerland's President Micheline Calmy-Rey is said to be aware of the allegations and had forwarded the information about Taib's assets in Switzerland to its regulatory body, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, for action.
Rundi said the corruption allegations and the on-going MACC investigation would not affect the state's image in the eyes of the international community.
'We don't prejudge (guilt)'
“We don't prejudge (that Taib is guilty), but we should leave the matter to the authorities to probe,” said Rundi, who is also the state Barisan Nasional secretary-general and assistant minister of environment and public health.
“As of now, we don't have many comments to make on the allegations,” he said.
He said he had read the allegations against Taib on the whistleblower website Sarawak Report, and other websites.“Well, any such information or allegations are mere allegations until they are proven,” he insisted.
Asked whether the state government was aware of the on-going investigation by the MACC, he said: “It is not a matter of being aware or not. It is the right of the authorities to conduct the investigations.
“Let them investigate... they have the right to investigate if they want to investigate. They have to prove that the allegations are true,” he said.
Rundi was little upset with a reporter who asked whether he or the other state ministers and assistant ministers would cooperate with MACC if asked for their statements to be recorded.
“Are you questioning me now... ? “But of course, we will (cooperate with the MACC),” he said.
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