Canadian spotlight on Taib family's 'investments'

Canadians have been given an eyeful on the alleged investment of profits from the logging of dwindling rainforests, by a company linked to the Sarawak chief minister’s eldest daughter and her husband.
According to a programme aired nationwide on the Global News’s network 16X9 last Saturday, the profits went into the construction of properties in Ottawa, the Canadian capital.

The couple has, however, denied all related accusations made on the programme entitled 'Family Trees', which was uploaded on the station’s website last week.

Eleven federal ministries are said to be renting from Sakto Corporation’s Preston Square, operated by Jamilah Abdul Taib and her Canadian husband Sean (Hashim) Murray, (left) who is her business partner.

These offices are said to be used by the attorney-general, Children and Youth Services, Citizenship and Immigration, Health and Long-term Care, Labour; Health Promotion, Sport and Recreation, and Community and Social Services.

“Canadian taxpayers are paying C$4.9 million (RM15.12 million) annually (to rent) these properties from Sakto,” the report said.

Jamilah was described as a director in eight companies in Canada and 63 companies in Sarawak, in the programme.

Murray, in a letter to Global News, has denied all allegations and claimed that Abdul Taib does not benefit directly or indirectly from the company’s transactions.

“We also deny that the money (was) used in Sakto's projects in Canada (or) Sakti Corporation’s projects in the United States. Allegations of our connection in the destruction of the rainforest are false,” they said.

“We find the statement highly false and defamatory. We have varied business interests.”

The 17-minute programme highlights an interview with Sarawak Report founder Clare Rewcastle-Brown (right), who traced the alleged link between logging activities in Sarawak and use of the profits in Canada.

Despite the couple’s denial of the allegations, she insisted that the evidence suggests otherwise.

“Everyone whom I know that has worked for Taib family companies not only say that daddy is the piggy bank, but that he is the godfather,” she alleged.

‘C$3 million start-up capital’

Brown claimed to have evidence  - parts of documents were shown on the programme - to show how the contracts were given to Taib's family members, including Jamilah.

“It is an environmental and human catastrophe as the forest has been mowed down,” she said.

“Abdul Taib has used his power to rob the people and to take as much money as he can from the state which he controls. I feel I have a sense of responsibility for the forest and the people of Sarawak ....”

She claimed that Jamilah had obtained C$3 million in 1983 while as a student in Ottawa, and had participated with her uncle Onn Taib Mahmud in timber-shipping activities to form Sakto.

According to the programme, they bought a rundown place and developed the property. They currently own six properties in Ottawa worth in excess of C$100 million (RM308 million).

Brown (right), who once lived in Sarawak and now operates Sarawak Report in London, said all Taib wants is to log the rainforest and open up areas for oil palm planting.

Canadian anthropologist Wade Davis described the deforestation and the plight of the Penan people as “criminal”.

Imprisoned for a month

“You ask yourself, from the logging activities, what do the people get in return? Nothing. You not only obliterate the forest but also the people's unique way of life,” he said when interviewed for the programme.

“.... It shows how much they have taken but are investing in the Americas and it shows how much they are committed to their people.”

The programme also interviewed an activist who now resides in Canada, and who had been imprisoned for a month in Sarawak for participating in a blockade to protect the Penan people.

“The truth is that they are trying to destroy the forest and the people staying there,” said the activist who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions.

Taib, in a video posted on Youtube, has previously denied that rainforest destruction is extensive in Sarawak, as logging practices are inspected by foreign auditors.

“We have good civic culture and good logging practices. Oil palm (planting) is to benefit development of unproductive land,” he said in the video.

Commenting on the C$3 million made available to Jamilah, he had said: “I resigned from the federal government and I gave her a gratuity and I put it up together and give the money to her.”

“If you got talent, you've got some money, you can really build a good business. Over 30 years, anybody can get rich if they have something up there,” he added pointing to his head.

So much information, yet no action by MACC