Prime Minister Najib Razak may want to meet Sarawak’s controversial Chief Minister Taib Mahmud to discuss the future of the state’s leadership, but pundits say he will not be able to influence Taib into retiring.
“It is an open secret that Kuala Lumpur wants Taib to go but they cannot ask him directly, especially when he has no plans to retire any time soon," Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian told Malaysia Chronicle.
"What can Najib do? There’s no way he can ask the old man to go. Taib has delivered for him. If not for Sarawak and Sabah, BN won’t be holding the federal government. So don't read anything into Najib's discussion. Taib will only go when he wants to and he has no intention of going yet."
Wealth even more fabulous than expected
The 71-year old Taib has been in the public spotlight, dogged by allegations of massive abuse of power and corruption for decades.
His fabulous wealth has always been the subject of speculation, but now with revelations from the Sarawak Report – a website dedicated to exposing his corruption – the public has been shocked to find that they have actually been underestimating his assets.
Sarawak is one of the country’s poorest states despite its enormous natural resources and petroleum wealth. It also has to face its 10th state election by July 2011.
According to Najib, Taib’s party will remain the mainstay of the Sarawak BN.
"Whatever decision that will be made will be based on the spirit of loyalty and friendship,” Najib told reporters, when asked to comment on recent speculation that Taib might wish to retire after being Chief Minister for the past 29 years.
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