STOP TIMBER CORRUPTION DEMO

HU Editor

MIRACLE HARVEST YIELDS MIRACLE PROFITS FOR RAZIAH & ROBERT!

. Sarawak Report

The company Miracle Harvest Sdn Bhd, belonging to Raziah Mahmud, the sister of the Chief Minister, and her husband Robert Geneid, has certainly yielded some miraculous profits.  They are particularly miraculous because the company has not yet started officially operating, according to Malaysia’s Register of Companies!

Like so many of Razia’s land companies, Miracle Harvest, incorporated 15th June 2005, uses the business address of Kumpulan Parabena Sdn Bhd.  Kumpulan Parabena is run by the Geneids and we have revealed that the Chief Minister also holds a substantial stake through the holding company Mesti Bersatu.   According to our researches the land titles which have been recently awarded to list of different companies based at this address amount to an area greater than Singapore!

Anti-corruption blog founder Clare returns fire at M’sian authories

Mariam Mokhtar, Malaysia Chronicle

Clare Rewcastle Brown, the founder of Radio Free Sarawak and the author of the Sarawak Report blog, has returned fire at Malaysian authorities who said her radio broadcasts were illegal and accused her to trying to stir up trouble in their country.

RFS and Sarawak Report are dedicated to exposing the alleged corruption of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud and removing him from power. The fabulously wealthy Taib has ruled Sarawak with a fist of iron for four decades and is due to call for state-wide polls by July this year.

PKR chief dares Taib to NCR land debate

Stephen Tiong

Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian has challenged billionaire Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud to a public debate on the native customary rights (NCR) land.

“I am extending an open invitation to him to debate against me on the NCR land issue,” Baru said at a press conference in Kuchingtoday.

“He has two weeks to reply, but if he does not agree to the open invitation, then I will send him an official letter, through my legal office, to invite him to face me,” said the NCR land law expert.

NCR land: Bian invites Taib to open debate

Joseph Tawie

The Sarawak government’s recent comment that there are only 1.5 million hectares of NCR land has confused natives, says state PKR chief Baru Bian.

Chief Minister Taib Mahmud has been challenged to an open debate to clear the confusion over the native customary rights (NCR) land and allegations that the state government is “robbing” natives of their lands.

Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian, in issuing the challenge, said: “This NCR land issue is crucial to them (natives), and they want to know the true stand of the state government.

EC auto voter registration remark draws fire

Stephen Tiong

PKR Central Wanita vice-president Voon Shiak Nie ( Right ) has taken the cudgel to Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar for belittling calls for automatic voter registration to boost the number of voters in the country.

He was reported to have remarked, “Automatic voter registration would mean little if people did not vote. If most people can’t be bothered to vote, then voter turnout would be lower during election time, even if they were automatic voters.”

‘Report Radio Free Sarawak to police’

Joseph Tawie

State minister Joseph Salang refuses to believe that Radio Free Sarawak is broadcasting from London.

Sarawakians are urged to report online broadcast station, Radio Free Sarawak (RFS), which has been highly critical of the state government to the police, home ministry or the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to enable an investigation to be carried out.

Said State Information, Communication and Culture Deputy Minister Joseph Salang: “If in the course of investigation it is proven that the radio broadcast content contravenes the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, MCMC can block its broadcast.

Pot calling the kettle black!

Mariam Mokhtar, Malaysia Chronicle

Najib Abdul Razak is rather disingenuous to tell Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to refrain from using violence against protestors who are opposed to his rule.

He said, “We believe that he should not use violence. What is important for us is to take into account the aspirations of people… The system should be legitimate, it has to be based on support of people.”

Pakatan will leave no seat uncontested in Sarawak

Stephen Tiong

Sarawak PKR and its Pakatan Rakyat partners are ready to face Sarawak BN in the upcoming state elections, which is likely to be held in April or early May.

“We will make sure that they will not win uncontested,” Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian said today.

The opposition coalition has more or less agreed on the seat allocations for each respective parties – PKR, DAP, PAS and Sarawak National Party (Snap) – after three rounds of negotiations.

Taib fires back at foreign NGOs for being “mischievous”

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud has returned fire at foreign NGOs, moving into the final stretch of an electoral race that could see his 40-year odd political career end in the same sort of disgrace as those of fallen Middle Eastern leaders like Gadaffi, Mubarak and Tunisia’s Ben Ali.

To many people in his state, the 74-year old Taib is no kinder or less cruel than these men who have tried to cling to power and perpetuate their oppressive, and some say, criminal styles of leadership.

History closing its chapter in Libya

Sim Kwang Yang

As I write, the violent events in Libya are coming to a head, as an unreconstructed strongman, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, looks grimly at the inevitable end of his rule. Another despot is counting the days remaining of his political life, just like other dictators in much of the Arab world.

The people’s revolt against dictators, sweeping across much of the Arab heartland, has come as a surprise. The disintegration of Libya comes with a heavy price in lives and blood, as Gaddafi continues to hang onto power, even though his tenuous hold on his country is slipping.

Give us back our NCR land

Joseph Tawie

Natives in Rumah Ranggong, Ulu Niah, intimidated by armed thugs last week are demanding the government reinstate the status of their land

An expected protest by natives, in Miri, against Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s land grab policies did not materialise.

Instead, it turned into a discussion when residents of Rumah Ranggong, Ulu Niah, met with government reps and a local oil palm plantation company, BLD Resources Sdn Bhd.

I’m doing it for the people and the jungle, says British anti-Taib reporter

Shannon Teoh

Radio Free Sarawak and the Sarawak Report have been critical of Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s state government but there is no political agenda except to save the tribal people and the “priceless” forests of the state, their founder said today.

Clare Rewcastle Brown responded today to accusations of a malicious agenda to bring down the Barisan Nasional (BN) government there, insisting that “we are not motivated by malice, only by concern for the people of Sarawak and the priceless Borneo jungle that has been destroyed by the greed of just a few people.”

Sarawak BN may fall like Berlin Wall, says British anti-Taib crusader

Shannon Teoh

Barisan Nasional (BN) has held on to power in Sarawak through intimidation, but could still fall just like the Iron Curtain and Berlin Wall, said the sister-in-law of former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown who has turned into an internet and radio crusader against Tan Sri Taib Mahmud’s administration.

Clare Rewcastle Brown, who operates radio station Radio Free Sarawak and blog Sarawak Report from Covent Garden in London, told The Malaysian Insider that “every person I have spoken to is scared of the fact that the BN government will know how they vote.”

SUPP’s ‘randy’ Rayong in trouble?

Ismail

SUPP adamantly wants incumbent Johnical Rayong as its candidate in Engkilili, but the party’s rank and file have a different opinion.

Rumours of three wives, a series of broken promises and neglect could cost Sarawak United Peoples’ Party’s (SUPP) candidate Johnical Rayong his Engkilili seat in the coming Sarawak state polls.

FBI’s Seattle office to see embarrassing anti-corruption protest

BRUNO MANSER FUND, BASEL / SWITZERLAND

Anti-Taib protests are spreading to the United States – US government asked to investigate allegations of the late former Taib aide and whistleblower Ross Boyert

SEATTLE / SAN FRANCISCO (US) The global campaign against Sarawak’s billionaire Chief Minister-cum-illegal logging tycoon, Abdul Taib Mahmud (“Taib”), is gaining further momentum. Yesterday, human rights groups and environmental campaigners in the US announced a picketing campaign outside Taib properties in Seattle and San Francisco. Similar protests will be held next week in the UK and Canada.

Minister recycling same answers, says PKR

FMT

Sarawak PKR has lambasted State Planing and Resource Minister Awang Tengah Ali Hassan for his comments in a local daily.

KUCHING: A Sarawak minister who accused the opposition of harping on the “old issue of NCR land” is himself recycling the same answers for the past decade and treating the people as if they were ignorant of their rights, said Sarawak PKR information chief See Chee How.

Concern over rising rate of leasing out NCR lands

Stephen Tiong

Sarawak PKR information chief See Chee How said the opposition parties and human rights groups were concerned at the accelerated rate of leasing out NCR lands to plantation companies since last year.

“We want to find out the reasons for the acceleration of leasing out NCR lands to companies. Has it got to do with somebody who is about to leave politics?” he said when asked to comment on Sarawak Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Awang Tengah Ali Hasan’s attack on the opposition and rights groups on the NCR land issues.

Another leaf turns in NCR land case saga

Keruah Usit

The ongoing native land case has taken another turn with one of those sued naming the lawyer responsible for preparing and witnessing a so-called “Deed of Settlement and Undertaking” between the claimants and the contractor.

The legal battle is between logging contractor Loyal Billion, representing timber licensee Quality Concrete and co-defendant Penghulu Merum Babu in the heated Native Customary Rights (NCR) land case. Loyal Billion named the counsel as Arthur Lee Cheng Chuan.

Taib will not last forever

Mariam Mokhtar, Malaysia Chronicle

When Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud first heard of an anonymous blog that attacked him and his family for alleged corruption, he laughed and brushed it aside like he would a pesky fly.

But the blog didn’t go away, and soon it sprouted a radio unit to reach more people in interior of the state where broadband is still a dream invention of the West.

And on Monday, Taib’s headache is bound to grow worse. Defenders of Sarawak’s indigenous communities and the Borneo rainforest have announced street protests in the United Kingdom and Canada against what they call his blatant corruption and deprivation of his people’s humanity.

Sarawak Report founder: Not my job to oust Taib

Malaysiakini 

A British journalist who runs an website and online radio critical of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Abdul Mahmud says that her task is not to oust the long-time leader.
“I do not see it as my job to bring down Taib. That is for the Sarawakian people to decide,” said Clare Rewcastle Brown in an email interview with Malaysiakini.

Rewcastle Brown runs the fiercely anti-Taib website Sarawak Report which has exposed the chief minister’s alleged global business empire and corrupt activities. 

What’s Masing’s plan now?

. FMT

Allegedly “bullied and ignored” by Chief Minister Taib Mahmud, State Land Development Minister James Masing, who has faithfully waited in the wings, is now, it appears, prepared to go his way, with or without Barisan Nasional, if forced to accept Pelagus assemblyman Larry Sng.

Masing, who is Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president, made a covert visit to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak recently, causing much discomfort among Taib’s Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) party.

Probe ‘billionaire’ Taib, MACC told

Tashny Sukumaran

Suaram says it is appalled by the government’s continued silence over the shocking exposure, and demands action.

Suaram has called on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to probe Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud.

The rights group said it was appalled by the government’s continued silence following the shocking exposure of a long list of foreign assets allegedly linked to the politician’s family.

TAIB’S ‘ENTREPRENEURSHIP’ IN MIRI – CORRUPTION REVEALED

. Sarawak Report

When did this old boy last get to drive himself? let alone in a digger! Ground breaking ceremony for his company’s ‘fortuitous’ contract to construct the Taman Tunku – Taman Jelita road!

At the end of last year, during a ground breaking ceremony for the new Taman Tunku - Taman Jelita road in Miri, Taib Mahmud launched into his new big theme of condemning ’envy’.  As one onlooker recalls, the Chief Minister said:

Canadian government under fire over Taib ties

BRUNO MANSER FUND, BASEL / SWITZERLAND

Human rights and environmental campaigners criticize the Canadian federal government and the Ontario provincial government for renting office space from the kleptocratic Malaysian Taib family. – International campaigners call for a probe into the rental contracts worth millions of dollars

Taib’s ‘love’ for Larry Sng threatens BN unity

Joseph Tawie

Chief Minister Taib Mahmud risks losing ally PRS over his preference for party-less Pelagus assemblyman Larry Sng.

KUCHING: Smouldering within the leadership ranks of Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBS) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) is a “war” that threatens the stability of the state Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

And the cause is Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s baffling preference for party-less Pelagus assemblyman Larry Sng.

Attack victims to lodge MACC report

Joseph Tawie

A father and son, who were bashed by thugs, are wondering why police have not initiated an investigation.

KUCHING: Nine days after Minggat anak Nyakin and his son Juan were attacked at a timber log pond at Sungai Rusa in Sarikei Division, their families and relatives are wondering why the authorities have not taken any action against their attackers.

According to Sarawak Native Landowners Network (Tahabas) spokesman Bernard Nyumbang Anank Barau, there has also been no police investigation into the alleged illegal logging activities.

With Ragad by his side, Taib is buying time and comtemplating his next move

. Malaysia Chronicle

Uncertainty looms in the shadows of hope.

Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud announced that the coming state election might be his last and that he was retiring from politics because of old age and his family commitments.

Don’t you believe it!

Did you sign away NCR land, Masing?

Joseph Tawie

A new issue allegedly involving Land Minister James Masing is brewing over the NCR land dispute between natives and BLD Resources.

Land Development Minister James Masing has come under fire for his alleged involvement in converting a native customary rights (NCR) property into state land, which has resulted in a legal dispute between the natives of Rumah Ranggong in Ulu Niah and BLD Resources Sdn Bhd.

How rich are Malaysia’s top civil servants and ministers?

. J. D. Lovrenciear

There have been numerous reports especially in the new media about the extravagance of top civil servants and ministers and MPs and MBs.  Even their family members have been accused of leading jet-setting lifestyles, having a range of expensive cars in their garage, over-whelming jewellery, and courting the world of the rich and famous here and abroad as well, having lands and businesses that would have taken an entrepreneur a light year to build, etc. In some instances even the dwellings of certain individuals were deemed fit for kings.

Anti-Taib campaign to be taken to the streets of London and Ottawa

. BMF

International human rights and environmental campaigners announce protests against Taib family companies in London and Ottawa – indigenous leaders from Malaysia to lead the protests

OTTAWA (CANADA) / LONDON (UK). Defenders of Sarawak’s indigenous communities and the Borneo rainforest have announced street protests in the United Kingdom and Canada against the blatant corruption of the Sarawak Chief Minister, Abdul Taib Mahmud. The protests will take place outside two property companies in downtown Ottawa and central London that are controlled by the Taib family. The two companies, the Canadian Sakto Corporation and the British Ridgeford Properties Ltd. are both named on a blacklist of 49 secret Taib companies that was released earlier this week by the Swiss Bruno Manser Fund.

Sarawak’s Low Voter Registration Problems: A Response to EC

BK Ong

The EC’s No. 2 Dato Wan Ahmad reportedly claimed that they had spent 10mil of the election administration budget to ferry voters from interior by helicopters to enable them to exercise their voting right. This is nothing but a blatant lie that you could have verified before reporting it.

While the claim might be motivated to give undue credit to the EC on its effort to empower the rural folks with voting power, what really happen is exactly the opposite: over half of the eligible adults in Sarawak’s interior are denied their voting rights due to the various obstacles put in the way of such citizens to even register as a voter – what more to go to vote in a EC chartered helicopter?

‘Heirless’ Taib is afraid to step down

Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz

Chief Minister Taib Mahmud is desperately in need of a political successor to safeguard his and his family’s empire in Sarawak.

I have regular meetings with the someone whom I would like call the “Oracle of Syed Putra.”  I first started penning my meetings with the Oracle way back in 2008 in my blog.

The “Oracle” is the alter ego of Tun Daim Zainudin. They grew up together. They knew each other’s siblings. They played together and did things normally done by the young and old alike. They were inseparable.

Act Now. Freeze Taib’s assets and order a probe, Pakatan dares Najib

Stan Lee, Selena Tay, Malaysia Chronicle

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.

POLICE GAGGED BARU BIAN

. Sarawak Report 

The Chief Minister, Taib Mahmud clearly has no intention of allowing the democratic process to get in the way of his election chances.  Sarawak Report has obtained exclusive video material showing how police were sent in to prevent the opposition PKR leader Baru Bian from addressing a peaceful gathering of people from his own constituency.  We have also learnt that Taib has sent out a disgraceful directive instructing police to deny permits for any opposition gatherings!