Taib's son rich from gov't deals, but no proof of abuse

While Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud's son Mahmud Abu Bekir had richly benefited from the state, provisions of the law is hindering the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) from charging Taib for abuse of power.

According to MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Mohd Shukri Abdull, this is because Taib had either declared his interest or was absent from meetings where the decision to award state deals to Bekir (left) were made.

"Regarding his (Taib's) son, and his (former) daughter-in-law's testimony in court. It is true, he received things like timber concessions, which he could sell, amounting to a lot of money.

"But he had applied for the projects and gotten them. His father did not make any decisions, it was approved by the exco members (the Sarawak cabinet). This is the weakness in the law," he said when met in Kuala Lumpur today.

Mohd Shukri was commenting when asked if the testimonies in the ongoing Syariah Court trial between Bekir and ex-wife Shahnaz A Majid could be used as evidence against the chief minister.

"You said his (Taib's) name, I didn't," he said.

Mohd Shukri (right) added that based on Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, a person cannot be charged for abuse of power if there is no evidence that he or she had personally made the decision to award a contract where there is conflict of interest.

"He could either leave a meeting (after declaring the conflict of interest), which will be noted in the meeting, or his name would not be on the meeting minutes at all because he was not present (when the decision was made)," he said.

[More to follow]