Unfazed Taib bulldozes ahead with masterplan

Undaunted by the ongoing series of protests in major cities around the globe, Taib Mahmud continues announcing new plans for development.

BINTULU: Described by the Swiss-based Bruno Manser Fund as the “most corrupt politician in Southeast Asia”, Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud, who is being shamed across the globe by a series of “Anti-Taib Mahmud” campaigns, has disclosed a new comprehensive ecological masterplan to develop Kapit and Baram.

(BMF is urging eight countries, including the US, UK and Canada, which are hosting 49 Taib-linked businesses, to freeze his assets.)

Taib, described as the “chief culprit for the destructive logging of several hundred thousand hectares of Sarawak’s rainforest”, said that a detailed study would be carried out to identify vital features which would help effectively develop the areas.

He added that the research would focus on utilising hydropower development for eco-tourism.

Speaking to reporters here, he said: “As a virgin territory, we will transform it without losing our identity, history and environment.

“There are so many things that we do which cannot be justified under the present development philosophy because Kapit is very small. It only has about 38,000 square km and there are only about 100,000 plus people. So you cannot spend the government’s money without a reason.

“But now we can see ecological, environmental, and eco-tourism potential all planned together; this is good development and we’ll get the benefits later.

“Now we cannot tell the benefits, so with that kind of master plan we can tell the benefits 20 years ahead like SCORE, for example,” he said.

(SCORE or Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy is a major project to develop the Central Region and transform Sarawak into a developed state by 2020.)

Taib said no community would be ignored or neglected from development and assured the locals that the “original state of the place” will be preserved.

Sophisticated technology

He said under the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) about RM5 million will be allocated to the Sarawak Museum to research and conserve the culture and heritage in the areas.

“I will call it the museum people. I want them to set up a programme of study – what to preserve, what to identify – something that’s ecologically and culturally very interesting,” he said.

Taib also assured the locals that he will be heading the masterplan committee, saying that such research studies was now possible because of the latest sophisticated technology.

He appears unfazed by the mounting allegations of abuses against his 30-year regime.

Taib, who has reportedly amassed billions of US dollars worth of properties abroad, is alleged to have derived his wealth by stripping Sarawak’s rainforest and natural resources.

Wallowing in wealth, Taib had once reportedly told natives that he had more money than he needed.
Sarawak, which is one of Malaysia’s oil and gas hub, is among the poorest state in country. Thousands of longhouses inhabited by natives are without basic amenieties such as clean water, electricity and toilets.

A carbotage policy enforced by the federal government has forced prices of basic necessities to sky-rocket.

The recent increases in the price of fuel and kerosene has left longhouses with fewer “lighted” hours in a day and travel to their nearest township expensive. - FMT