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Radio Free Sarawak, 15420 KHz channel on the Short Wave band.

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MACC Taskforce for Taib probe: Pussycats against Tiger Taib!

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Inside Malaysia’s Shadow State

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Outtake No.1 – Inside Malaysia’s Shadow State

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Malaysia Chronicle

Sunday, 30 June 2013 10:57

ME, QUIT? With Najib afraid of him, “naughty & dishonest” Taib will steamroll over weak MACC

Written by  Sarawak Report

This weekend the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) made clear that there is a huge amount of information pointing to the fact that it is Taib who is extremely “naughty and dishonest”.

These are, of course, the words he famously used to describe the commission itself, when he was questioned about its investigations into his blatant and extraordinary looting of the state he is entrusted to manage.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AT SARAWAK REPORT

ME, QUIT? With Najib afraid of him, “naughty & dishonest” Taib will steamroll over weak MACC

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Free Malaysia Today

Taib’s our ‘chief campaigner’, says opposition

The Barisan Nasional lives on corruption and all PM Najib Tun Razak can do is to condone such wrong doings, says Sarawak DAP

KUCHING: If Sarawak opposition wins its targeted 16 parliamentary seats in the May 5 general election, it will be due entirely to Chief Minister Taib Mahmud.

Describing Taib as the opposition’s “chief campaigner”, state DAP said “if he does not step down as promised” the likelihood of an opposition win was very high.

In the 2011 state election, allegations of corruption, land grabs and power abuse by Taib and his cronies saw the opposition wrest an unprecedented 15 seats.

Post-election analysis had pointed out a more than 40% swing in voter support for the opposition in the once strong Barisan Nasional frontiers.

“We’ve been preparing and working the ground since,” he said, adding that Taib had “unwittingly” been their “number one campaigner”.

“Unwittingly, he is our number one campaigner. He has overstayed his welcome [as chief minister).

“His continuance as chief minister and refusal to step down as promised are the two factors which will be our number one campaigning tool,” said Chong.

He said Taib had made a promise to quit his chief minister’s post during the 2010 Sibu by-election and reiterated this in the run-up to 2011 state election.

“At that time, he said he will retire within two years of the state election.

“The two years is coming up on April 16. In case he forgets, I would like to remind him to honour his pledge.

“He still has four days to honour his pledge, otherwise he will be a leader who has ‘eaten’ his words.

Taib’s our ‘chief campaigner’, says opposition

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Malaysia Chronicle

Sarawak Report can reveal that Taib’s eldest daughter, Jamilah, was dubbed “Princess Jamilah” while still at college in Canada, on account of her fabulous wealth.

Fellow students at the Ottawa’s Carlton University were so amazed at the teenager’s conspicuous wealth, her designer outfits and grand accommodation, that they jokingly gave her the royal title.

The disclosure, which was made to Sarawak Report by former student contemporaries of Jamilah, adds to the Taib family pretensions to royalty that just won’t go away.

Just days ago the Chief Minister’s cousins were exposed bragging that people treat them “like kings”, while complaining that the “very, very poor” natives, whom they called squatters, “always expect some handouts” when they pass through the rural areas.

The information about Jamilah’s early wealth also directly contradicts recent claims by Taib that his daughter is a self-made woman who achieved her extraordinary wealth only “because she is clever”.

With Aunty Raziah – another self-made woman with million dollar diamonds?

In a statement Taib offensively boasted that all his four children (and indeed his entire family) are all extremely rich on account only of their brains and not money or opportunities passed on by him.

He then tapped his head and dismissed the “crabs” all those who have not achieved wealth in Sarawak, by saying “People who don’t have it up here, there is nothing you can do”.

‘PRINCESS’ JAMILAH, SARAWAK’S FIRST DAUGHTER? Taib’s child shocks with lavish lifestyle

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AT SARAWAK REPORT

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Malaysia Chronicle

A loss-making Taib family company with share capital of just half a million ringgit was granted almost RM2billion in loans last December by the Malaysia Development Bank (PBMB), which is run by the Ministry of Finance using public money.

The astonishing revelation is made all the more shocking by the fact that the Sarawak Chief Minister himself has a substantial shareholding himself in the obscure company, KP Mukah Development, which only registers half million ringgit in assets.

The Directors are Taib’s favoured sister Raziah Mahmud, her husband Robert Geneid and one of Raziah’s young sons Ewan bin Abbas.

Sarawak Report risks being scolded once more for being “naughty” by Taib, in suggesting that this extraordinary and risky loan of public money to an insubstantial company owned by himself and his family should form part of the on-going investigations by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC).

Given the MACC was itself also branded “naughty” and “dishonest” by the multi-billionaire politician last week for confirming that his affairs are indeed under investigation and he also called the respected international anti-corruption NGO, Global Witness “sneaky” and “linked to the opposition”, Sarawak’s top politician is fast diminishing into a figure of fun.

However, there is growing concern at the sheer scale of the wealth that has disappeared from Malaysia’s public finances.

What is KP Mukah Development Sdn Bhd?

Click on the link and find out
SO NAUGHTY but govt bank still lends Taib family firm RM1.9 BILLION

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Malaysia Chronicle

Caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak should show his commitment towards fighting corruption by either demanding the resignation of Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud or else abolish the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). This follows the shocking comments by Abdul Taib that “the MACC don’t deserve my cooperation because they have been naughty… and they have not been honest”.

The Sarawak Chief Minister even characterized investigation by MACC against him for graft as “victimisation”, Abdul Taib should show proof of such “victimization” by MACC. Public opinion is that the Sarawak Chief Minister has been “shielded” by MACC rather than victimized by being given especially lenient treatment.

For a Chief Minister to refuse to co-operate with MACC over corruption allegations against him is a serious breach of duty and statutory obligation. Under section 47 and 48 of the MACC Act 2009, such refusal to co-operate with MACC when you are subject to investigation, may be an offence which can be punished by a maximum fine of RM10,000 or imprisonment of 2 years or both.

Worse is Abdul Taib Mahmud’s arrogance as a Chief Minister who thinks he is above the law. His open defiance of ethical values and standards of integrity required of a Chief Minister, who should be upholding the law instead of defying it, and be a model of ethical conduct and integrity instead of behaving like a rapacious overlord is just unacceptable.

Malaysians are now waiting to see whether Najib dares to punish and act against Abdul Taib for such disgraceful remarks.

Datuk Seri Najib must get Tan Sri Abdul Taib to resign if Najib is committed to rule of law, transparency, accountability and fighting corruption as he is an embarrassment not only to BN but also to Sarawak and Malaysia. If Tan Sri Abdul Taib does not resign, this clearly shows that there are double-standards, with the Sarawak Chief Minister enjoying legal immunity from any wrongdoing which would be applied on ordinary Malaysians.

WOULD NAJIB DARE? Demand Taib’s resignation or abolish the MACC – Guan Eng

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Until MACC acts justly, Taib will stay untouchable

Malaysiakini

Hazlan Zakaria 2:18PM Apr 4, 2013

VIDEO | 0.56 min

Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud has today accused the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigation of himself for graft as “victimisation”, reserving his cooperation as he believes that they have been “naughty and dishonest”.

“They (MACC) don’t deserve my cooperation because they have been naughty… and they have not been honest,” he said when met after attending the BN supreme council meeting in Kuala Lumpur today.

However, he stressed that he is not afraid of being investigated by the anti-graft body.

“Let them victimise me… Let them do what they want as long as they are fair, I am not scared,” said the veteran BN politician.

When asked if he feels that the shadow of the corruption investigation made him a liability to BN, Taib has dismissed the matter.

“I am a liability? I won the last election with more than two-thirds majority and they do not care about this thing,” responded the long-time Sarawak chief minister.

Taib: I won’t cooperate with naughty, dishonest MACC

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Free Malaysia Today

BN nervous about video backlash

The Global Witness’ video’s Iban version will be the opposition’s biggest weapon to convince the rural community to turn its backs on Taib Mahmud and Barisan Nasional.

KUCHING: Sarawak Barisan Nasional component leaders, ministers and MPs are increasingly nervous about the Dayak backlash from a covertly recorded video by international pressure group Global Witness.

The opposition has since reproduced the 16-minute video in Iban with Bahasa Malaysia subtitles. Thousands of these DVDs and VCDs are expected to find their way into the Iban heartland.

BN nervous about video backlash

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Malaysiakini

Normal business talk’ in Global Witness sting

Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud has again denied any element of corruption in a video released by international NGO Global Witness, which alleged the abuse of logging licences by members of his family and business associates.

However, Taib described the covertly-filmed conversation as “normal business talk”.

“To use a business talk as an evidence to allege someone else it is a bit far-fetched. Any businessman will try to promote himself with all the glorious connection he has made, isn’t it [sic]?” he said in an interview with news blog The Mole.

“This is a normal business practice. I know this, all people in Malaysia know this. I don’t think we can trust this talk unless they can show us their proof that there are [sic] money that will be given to me or my bank account on how much I have received it.”

‘Normal business talk’ in Global Witness sting

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Malaysia Chronicle

Sunday, 31 March 2013 16:01

Julau people outraged over Taib family LAND GRABS

Written by  Sarawak Report

The people of Julau who saw themselves victimised on the devastating film expose by Global Witness last week have come out in fury to protest at the secret disposal of their Native Customary Rights lands to Taib’s family members.

PKR front-runner in the area, Andy Wong, made a police report on the 23rd of March, followed by a report to the MACC on the 26th of March.

On the same day Andy and many from the PKR Julau Branch attended a demonstration against the alienation of their land to the greedy daughters of of the former Chief Minister, Rahman Ya’kub, who are cousins of Taib Mahmud.

There is particular fury that not only did the sisters boast that they could be certain of their right to take the land, because the Chief Minister “gave” it to their company Ample Agro Sdn Bhd, but they described the traditional native landowners, who have lived in the area for generations as “squatters”.

“They are actually squatters on the land, because the land doesn’t belong to them it’s the government land, so they’re squatting”, says the eldest sister Norlia, who seems to think somehow she instead has a right to it, because of her favoured position as a relative who can easily talk to the Chief Minister.

Adding insult to injury her younger sister Fatimah further insulted the local people of Julau by saying they were “naughty” for wanting compensation for the grabbing of their recognised rightful native lands.

“You know they are pretty naughty people. They try to make money, the moment they hear (they have people in the Land and Survey Department who tell them look this land has been given, has been titled to this company to do oil palm or what not) they plant themselves there.”

Julau people outraged over Taib family LAND GRABS

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Malaysian Insider

Dayak businessmen up in arms over Sarawak video expose

Libat urged the federal government to recognise Sarawak’s native customs, culture, conditions and circumstances when drawing up and carrying out policies, the daily reported, adding DCCI members were concerned its non-Muslim Bumiputera were being shut out of economic opportunities that appeared to favour Muslims.

By Debra Chong
Assistant News Editor
March 31, 2013

Screenshot of one of the scenes in the video clip as released by London-based activist group Global Witness.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 — Sarawak’s Dayak corporate chiefs are reportedly seething with rage over a video exposing racist remarks by some prominent state personalities with close government links and want Putrajaya to address their economic woes.

The Borneo Post Online reported today the video, produced by UK-based environmental campaigner Global Witness, was the hottest debate topic at the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (DCCI) annual general meeting in Kuching yesterday.

According to the news portal, DCCI members took offense at the views voiced by two lawyers and cousins to Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud which were seen to demean the indigenous tribes described in the video as “squatters” on state property in the expose on endemic corruption over land deals in Malaysia’s largest state.

“We firmly believe that the natives have rights in our land. Our rights in land have been well entrenched in our laws, culture and customs which are duly recognised and accepted by our courts.

“These rights should be respected by all,” DCCI secretary-general Libat Langub was quoted as saying in a statement issued after the meeting.

Libat reportedly admitted that Sarawak natives were trailing Malaysians in the peninsula economically, but said they had equal rights as citizens and should not be manipulated or exploited by others.

“Indeed, the way forward is to ensure that all communities are provided with greater opportunities to meaningfully participate in all sectors of development, including in land development, to ensure that we can achieve the government’s objective of a higher income and an all inclusive economy.

Dayak businessmen up in arms over Sarawak video expose

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NAMEWEE GOES TO SARAWAK AND RUBS SHOULDERS WITH THE SUPER RICH!

Curi-curi Wang Malaysia

Liked · 2 hours ago

Namawee with the Rolls Royce. Taib Mahmud is the only Chief Minister / Menteri Besar in Malaysia using it. Not even PM or DPM

-Anak Sarawak-

Curi-curi Wang Malaysia

Liked · 2 hours ago

Namawee with The Man, The King, The Fuhrer, The Godfather of Sarawak

-Anak Sarawak-

Curi-curi Wang Malaysia

Liked · 3 hours ago

Namawee with one of the Kardashian? No, it is Her Majesty Queen Ragad Al Kurdi. Wife of His Royal Highness King Abdul Taib Mahmud of Sarawak 🙂

-Anak Sarawak-

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Free Malaysia Today

Swiss NGO warns Taib’s London lawyers

Bruno Manser Fund is also urging the Companies Commission of Malaysia to deregister two companies mentioned in the Global Witness video.

KUCHING: An international NGO has challenged Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s British lawyers to explain their statement that the Sarawak government “issues licenses for land under very controlled circumstances”.

The London-based lawyers had, in response to an article published earlier this week in British daily The Independent, linking Taib to the massive deforestation in Sarawak, said: “The government of Sarawak issues licences for land in very controlled circumstances… This is an administrative exercise, not political patronage.

“Our client never demands or accepts bribes for the grant of licences and leases.”

Mishcon de Reya represents Taib, his Canadian son-in-law Sean Murray and their extensive global businesses network.

But Swiss-based Bruno Manser Fund (BMF), which is in the forefront of the ‘Freeze Taib’s assets’ and ‘Stop Timber Corruption’ campaigns, today challenged Mishcon deReya to clarify what it meant by “government of Sarawak issues licences for land in very controlled circumstances…”

BMF research had shown that Taib and his family members are reportedly sitting on 31 companies in Sarawak and have been allotted 200,000 hectares of land – equivalent to the size of Singapore.

“(We) challenge Mishcon de Reya to explain why, in these “very controlled circumstances”, close to 200,000 hectares of Sarawak state land ended up in the hands of oil palm plantation companies in which Taib family members have a known business interests.”

BMF noted that in the wake of Global Witness ‘sting’ video release exposing the level of corruption linked to Taib, Mishcon de Reya “is coming into the spotlight over their dodgy role”.

“The Bruno Manser Fund calls on Mishcon de Reya to drop the Sarawak Chief Minister and his family members as their customers,” it said in a statement.

Swiss NGO warns Taib’s London lawyers

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Malaysiakini

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has raided the office of lawyer Alvin Chong implicated in the corruption videos released by international NGO, Global Witness.

According to a Sin Chew Daily report, MACC officials from Putrajaya conducted the raid on Chong’s legal film in Kuching on Tuesday morning.

However, they were forced to seek the assistance of Kuching police after being blocked by several individuals who were not identified in the report.

Kuching district police chief Roslan Bek Ahmat told the Chinese daily that the police were only assisting the MACC in terms of security, and  not involved in the raid.

Accompanied by some 10 plain-clothes cops, MACC officials managed to enter Chong’s office in the afternoon to carry out their work without hindrance.

They spent several hours and left the office with some documents.

MACC raids office of S’wak lawyer implicated in video

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Free Malaysia Today

‘Lawyer in video was SUPP advisor’

The video exposé by London based Global Witness has turned public focus from Sarawak DAP’s internal strive to SUPP once again.

KUCHING: Sarawak DAP has taken its nemesis Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) to task over its ‘deafening silence’ regarding the ‘candid’ and ‘explicit’ interview given by SUPP “legal advisor” Alvin Chong in the covertly recorded Global Witness video which has garnered over 695,110 viewers on YouTube.

The video, which was released two weeks ago and excerpts of which was aired over Al Jazeera, has given the state opposition additional leverage.
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AP had earlier this month incurred the wrath of the its grassroots when it sacked six of its ‘influencial’ branch officers in Miri and Senadian.

But observers here said the Global Witness video interview with the Kuching-based lawyer Alvin, in which he arrogantly described how deals were inked, funds siphoned out of the country and the extend of Taib’s crony practice, was enough to distract attention from DAP’s issues.

It has long been rumoured that SUPP’s ‘top leadership’ were deeply involved in Taib’s ‘land development’ policies and alleged corrupt dealings.

In fact this was the premise on which the opposition built their strategy during the 2011 state elections which led to DAP and PKR winning an unprecedented 15 seats collectively.

Several top SUPP personalities including its president George Chan, whose daughter was married to Taib’s son Sulaiman – the Kota Samarahan MP – lost their seats. Chan, who had held the Piasau state seat for six terms lost it a 28-year old political greenhorn Ling Sie Kiong.

Speaking to reporters here, Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen said: “The corruption issue raided by Global Witness has serious implications on the whole government administration.

“It is putting Sarawak in a very bad light in the international community, and SUPP being part of the government should make its stand,” said Chong who is tipped to contest in Stampin.

‘Lawyer in video was SUPP advisor’

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Malaysiakini

The face of Sarawak tourism abroad, UK presenter Ben Fogle has called off his meet and greet event saying he is “horrified” by recent allegations of the state government’s corruption and acts of deforestation.

The BBC presenter whom Sarawak Tourism Board had engaged for its promotional documentaries ‘Ben Fogle’s Sarawak Adventures’ was slated for a champagne reception this week in London with blogger fans.

UK daily The Independent yesterday reported that Fogle, who has received criticism for being a “pawn” of the Sarawak government’s whitewash efforts, will halt his involvement in the campaign.

“Fogle told The Independent he has ‘postponed’ the champagne event after being ‘horrified’ by recent revelations.

“He said he would not be making any more films for the Sarawak Tourism Board until he received answers to ‘many questions’ that he now had,” reported the daily.

S’wak tourism poster boy horrified by corruption claims

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Ben Fogle accused of fronting propaganda ignoring Sarawak ‘environmental destruction and exploitation’

The television presenter Ben Fogle has been accused of taking part in an environmental propaganda campaign for a regime with one of the world’s worst records in deforestation. Fogle, known to millions of BBC viewers as a face of travel documentaries, has become the poster boy for tourism to the controversial state of Sarawak in Borneo, where vast amounts of industrial logging have left only five per cent of forests that have not been either logged or converted to palm oil plantations.

The presenter has made a series of films for the Sarawak Tourism Board under the title “Ben Fogle’s Sarawak Adventures” in which he is pictured playing with orang-utans and swimming in waterfalls. Fogle wrote about his trip to Sarawak, which is part of Malaysia, in his “Ben Fogle, The Adventurer” column for the Daily Telegraph and in a large article in Hello!

Fogle’s material has been widely promoted to a network of “mummy bloggers” encouraged to share the films and invited to meet the presenter at a champagne reception this week in London. Some believed they would be offered the chance to join a “Sarawak Blogger Ambassador Club” and go on a trip to Borneo.
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Fogle’s involvement in the PR campaign has shocked critics of the Sarawak government and its appalling record on conservation. “It seems Ben Fogle may have been made a pawn,” said Clare Rewcastle, founder of the Sarawak Report blog. “Anyone with the slightest knowledge of environmental matters should know the issues around Malaysian oil palm destruction and the culpability of the Sarawak state government.

“He should not be promoting them for responsible eco-tourism or pretending that they are protecting the jungle habitat of the orang-utan. The only place you can find orang-utan in Sarawak is in caged enclosures or in a few remaining patches of jungle where the state government is at loggerheads with the local tribes because it has issued licences to cut it down.”

Ben Fogle accused of fronting propaganda … – The Independent

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Politicalgags

Like This Page · March 20

Perompak berlesen di sarawak – Family business (●′ω`●)

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Malaysiakini

Sarawak DAP believes Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud will not take legal action against the London-based NGO Global Witness, as this could open up a can of worms.

“What has been exposed so far is just the tip of the iceberg,” said state party secretary Chong Chieng Jen.

He was commenting on Taib’s statement last Saturday that the state government is mulling action in relation to an undercover investigation by Global Witness that exposed an attempt to sell land  licences held by relatives and individuals claiming to be close to the chief minister.
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all for open disclosure

Chong said regardless of whether legal action is instituted, Taib is duty-bound to publicly disclose:

1.    How many acres of land the state government has alienated to companies belonging to members of his family;

2.    Why the land was alienated to these companies without going through an open tender process;

3.    Where the land is located, along with relevant particulars such as the lot numbers; and

4.    How much premium was paid by the companies concerned.

The writer, who uses a pseudonym, is based in Sarawak.

‘Taib will not dare act against Global Witness’

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Sundaily

DAP urges Taib to take legal action against Global Witness

KUCHING (March 26, 2013): Sarawak DAP today urged Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud to take legal action against international non-governmental organization Global Witness (GW) to clear his name.

“Taib will have to either take up legal suit against GW or else his non-action could be held as an admission to the allegations,” Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen said at a press conference.

Chong, who is also the Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament, expressed doubts whether Taib would take legal action.

“If Taib were to commence an action against GW, he may be compelled by the Court to disclose all the State land that have been alienated to companies and individuals,” he said.

DAP urges Taib to take legal action against Global Witness

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Malaysiakini

Fourteen thousand people have signed an online petition urging Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to set up a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to probe the corruption in Sarawak allegedly involving Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud’s family.

The petition was printed on 400 pieces of paper, measuring three-inches thick, and handed to the prime minister’s office by civil society groups this morning.

Sarawakian filmmaker Linus Chung (in blue T-shirt), who was among three people who initiated the petition, said that the onus was now on Najib to show that his “janji ditepati (promises fulfilled)” slogan means business.

14,000 petition for RCI on Sarawak graft

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IT’S ALWAYS ANWAR WHO IS TO BLAME!

SARAWAK CHIEF MINISTER, TAIB: IT’S ALSO ANWAR’S FAULT!

Malaysiakini

Taib fingers Anwar for Global Witness videos

12:18PM Mar 24, 2013

Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud has fingered PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim for videos accusing the former’s family of corruption that was released by international NGO Global Witness.

Taib said Anwar had used his strong links with international NGOs to bring the Sarawak state government into disrepute on the international stage, according to a report by the Sunday edition of Berita Harian.

“All kinds of issues were raised, about Sarawak’s rain forest being cleared, that none is left.

“But we all know this is not true – Whatever BN does is wrong, only what he (Anwar) does is right,” he was quoted as saying.

Taib fingers Anwar for Global Witness videos

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Click to access Inside-Malaysia%E2%80%99s-Shadow-State-briefing.pdf

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Global Witness releases new video to rebut Sibu lawyer: The video is available

Outtake No.1 – Inside Malaysia’s Shadow State

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Malaysiakini

Global Witness, the international NGO behind the release of alleged video evidence on abuse of logging licences by the family of Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, today released another video to rebut the claim of a lawyer implicated in the initial video.

Sibu lawyer Huang Lung Ong had told The Malay Mail on Wednesday that he was trapped by the undercover investigator sent by Global Witness to pose as a foreign investor, claiming that their conversation was merely “coffeeshop” talk.

“I was trapped. I was consulted on legal matters regarding land… Why should I speak about the chief minister?

“I may have uttered some words out of frustration as he (the investigator) kept on asking me many questions. I was pressured,” the partner of law firm Huang & Co was quoted saying.

However, the latest three-minute video showed Huang apparently introducing Billion Venture Sdn Bhd, the company owned by prominent Sarawak timber tycoon Hii Yii Peng, to the investigator in a cafetaria.

“This one belongs to my relative. He is about 78-years-old. He is willing to sell it.

The Hii family have extensive and enduring commercial interests with Taib and his immediate family in sectors including joint-ventures and common shareholdings in the palm oil, timber and hospitality industries.

Billion Venture has been issued by the Sarawak state government a 60-year licence for oil palm and commercial tree plantations covering an area of 32,000 hectares of natural forest in Limbang district, bordering the Gunung Mulu National Park.

In the second part of the newly-released video clip, believed to be secretly filmed in a hotel room, Huang answers the investigator’s questions on the mechanism to purchase Billion Venture.

Global Witness releases new video to rebut Sibu lawyer

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A group has started an online petition urging Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to set up a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into corruption in Sarawak following an NGO’s expose of the matter.

SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION: CLICK ON online petition.

Evelyn Tawan, Linus Chung and Henry Joseph, said in the Online Malaysians Initiative: “Corruption is driving the destruction of Sarawak’s forests and is making its citizens poorer as well as ruining its environment.

“The abuse of power for personal gain has gone unchecked in Sarawak for decades and can only be tackled by fundamental reforms, beginning with an RCI into corruption.”

They are urging the public to support the online petition that at 3pm today had garnered more than 1,000 signatures.

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Inside Malaysia’s Shadow State

Published on Mar 18, 2013

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Malaysiakini

A group has started an online petition urging Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to set up a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into corruption in Sarawak following an NGO’s expose of the matter.

The petition says the undercover investigation by London-based NGO Global Witness shows how Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud and his family were “accumulating enormous wealth through his abuse of public office at the expense of ordinary Sarawakians and Malaysians”.

“Too much money that belongs to Malaysia’s people is being siphoned off overseas. The government must rise above partisan political interest and act in the national interest to stop this,” said the group comprising three individuals.

hey were responding to Global Witness’ expose on Tuesday of a video clips showing how Taib’s family members and associates abused logging licences.

An undercover investigator posing as a foreign investor interested in procuring land in Sarawak covertly recorded videos of meetings held with Taib’s family members and associates.

The expose has prompted debate among civil society and NGOs on whether to call for an RCI into the matter or call for immediate investigation into the allegations.

Petition urges PM to hold RCI on Sarawak graft

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Malaysiakini

The Advocates Association of Sarawak (AAS) wants the two lawyers implicated in the recent Global Witness video alleging corruption in the state to be investigated for possible professional misconduct.

Its president Khairil Azmi Mohd Hasbie said the association has decided to refer the two lawyers to the Advocates Inquiry Committee, an independent disciplinary body separate from the AAS.

He said, in a statement today, this is so that the committee can “conduct its inquiry into possible instances of professional misconduct under laws and regulations governing the legal profession in the state.”

“The inquiry committee is a statutory body established under the Advocates (Inquiry Committee) rules 1988, with its panel members consisting senior advocates appointed by the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.

Lawyers’ group wants duo in corruption video probed

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