Amid intensifying global attention, Pakatan Rakyat leaders urged Prime Minister Najib Razak to immediately freeze the assets of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud pending a full investigation into a report by a Swiss NGO that Taib and his family controlled an enormous business empire wielded through 49 companies spanning 8 countries worldwide.
"After freezing his assets, they must commence an urgent investigation right away. There should be no feet-dragging in this matter. It is also regrettable that we have to suffer this ignominy to our image in the international arena in regards to this notorious deed. This could also be the biggest crime in Malaysian history," DAP MP for Klang Charles Santiago told Malaysia Chronicle.
On Monday, the Bruno Manser Fund released the list of 49 companies located worldwide. The breakdown showed 13 companies located in Malaysia, 10 in Australia, 13 in North America, 2 in the United Kingdom and even 3 in the tax haven of the British Virgin Islands.
The hot list was given to anti-corruption agencies and anti money-laundering agencies in the affected countries to enable the relevant authorities to freeze the Sarawak leader's assets.
Holidayed together
So far, the silence on the part of the Najib administration has extremely deafening.The PM and Taib have strong ties and recently holidayed together in Monaco - the playground of the fabulously rich and powerful.
"Sarawakians should make a report at the MACC and also with the police. After that the Malaysian government should act immediately and quickly to put Taib Mahmud to trial. There should not be any pussyfooting around in this matter," Nizar Jamaluddin, PAS MP for Bukit Gantang, told Malaysia Chronicle.
Some of the Malaysian companies reported to be linked to Taib are partly-owned by the state and are involved in state projects such as the Royal Mulu Resort and Murum Dam.
Yet, the Malaysian mainstream media has so far been been silent on the issue.
Pundits also reminded Najib that Malaysia is a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), which makes his government obliged to act swiftly, provide information and co-ordinate with other countries that request assistance over the same issue.
"If the MACC want to remain credible, they must investigate immediately. The facts given by the Bruno Manser Fund are easily verifiable and it does not take a genius to figure out whether they are true or not. In order to be seen to be credible, MACC must act this very minute. Otherwise, whatever credibility they have left will all be lost," PKR MP for Gopeng Lee Boon Chye told Malaysia Chronicle.
Global spotlight
Meanwhile, Clare Rewcastle Brown - the sister-in-law of former British premier Gordon Brown - has come out into the open, revealing herself and her small team of staff as the people behind anonymous blog Sarawak Report andRadio Free Sarawak.
Their decision to go public was prompted by death threats posted to the Sarawak Report website and by the mysterious fatality of her chief whistleblower in America.
"Before Christmas, Taib's disaffected US aide Ross Boyert was found dead in a Los Angeles hotel room with a plastic bag around his head. The inquest is still pending but there was a sense that Peter and I could be in danger. Rather than hide, we've decided to come out fighting," Clare told the London Evening Standard in an interview on Tuesday.
She also expressed concern Taib would escape scot-free because "the corrupt Malaysian government [will] turn a blind eye because Taib always delivers them Sarawak, their richest state."
"You've got to take heart from what is happening in the Middle East to rulers who seemed equally immovable until just a few weeks ago," she added. - Malaysia Chronicle
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