'If the head of PBB is corrupt and the lieutenants did nothing in the 30 years in which he is in power, they are equally complicit in the corruption.'

I've talked to Taib about his retirement, says PM

Pakman: PM Najib Razak, this is the most suitable time for Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud to answer and clear all the allegations against him.

He has been the longest CM in Malaysia, and his reign has been tainted with corruption and abuse of power. To allow such a character to remain in BN component parties is akin to endorsing all Taib's wrongdoings.

Where is the transformasi that you have been pushing? Is he still waiting for his son to be groomed as the next CM?

A time of reckoning has arrived for Sarawakians to take this opportunity to change for the betterment of the people, especially those in the remote area.

All opposition parties in Sarawak should work together and cooperate to ensure that Taib Mahmud and his cronies are not given further power to deprive Sarawakians the right to be treated fairly and equally as envisage in the 18-point agreement when Malaysia was established.

Raja Chulan: You can all say what you want, but the Sarawakian voters will once again ‘pangkah the dacing' (cross the BN logo) as they have done so many times before. The reason? What better alternative do they have?

Yes, Taib is old, corrupt, practices cronyism, willy and cunning, cheats and lies, etc, but the point is he can still beat the opposition hands down. Ask Dr Mahathir Mohamad about Taib. Both politicians are of the same class.

In fact, Dr M has much to learn from Taib. Mahathir packed 22 years under his belt, while Taib has already bagged 30 years and still going strong.

SusahKes: Hmmm... I wonder if those magic words - "I help you, you help me" - were uttered during the conversation between Najib and Taib.

Freemsia: When Taib Mahmud talked about the people he plans to groom and of a new team that "can work for this country, for the people of various races", he is actually referring to a new team of people who can take care of his interest when he is long gone.

Malaysiawatch4.blogspot: I hope the people in Sarawak decide that his retirement announcement is not important one way or another. Put his leadership to the acid test:

1) Have most Sarawakians benefitted from his rule or is it just a few selected cronies?

2) Have the people of Sarawak been cheated of their lands to enrich the CM and his family?

Thirty years is a long time, especially if a lot of people have to endure the suffering. Just make sure your ballot counts.

Malaysians Are Not Stupid: If for 30 years, he has not or cannot or would not train a successor, what make you think he can train a team of successors in the next one or two years?

Come on PM, please respect Malaysians' intelligence lah . We may look dumb to you but we are not stupid.

LHL: "Najib added that he respects Taib's desire to quit politics but cautioned that the long-serving chief minister should not be pressured to quit."

There are two errors in the statement above. Firstly, "long-serving" should be written as "self-serving". Secondly, why shouldn't Taib be pressured to quit? You mean he should be allowed to take his own sweet time?

Ghkok: This is like Hosni Mubarak advising Muammar Gaddafi about retirement.

Taib Mahmud took over as Sarawak CM in 1981, starting a 30-year BN reign in this resource-rich state. His track record is appalling.

Corruption on a grand scale, environmental destruction, oppression, intimidation, poverty, plundering, disregard for the 18-point Agreement, suppression of the natives, plundering of NCR land, mismanagement, abuse of power, denial of constitutional rights and economic malaise.

There is every reason not to vote for BN. In any country that practises free elections, a government like BN would have lost long ago. Nevertheless, as we know it, the people of Sarawak have awakened to their rights and will be summoning their courage to overcome the oppression that they face all along, coupled with a united and solid opposition coalition, the path is clear for history to be made.

It's simple - our country deserves a better government and a better quality of life. It's a fundamental desire of every human being.

Atan-Toyol: So, 30 years at the helm is still not enough? Let the people of Sarawak tell the BN that 48 years of BN rule is more than enough by voting an alternative government in the next GE, beginning with the state election.

If they cannot do it this time, then they only have themselves to blame, for the opportunity will not come again for a long, long time. Take back your power from the greedy BN politicians who never feel they ever have enough of anything.

Quigonbond: Taib stepping down does not take away the pressure on BN. If the head of PBB is corrupt and the lieutenants did nothing in the 30 years in which he is in power, they are equally complicit in the corruption.

Ipoh: It is not enough that he step down. He must be punished and made to return his illegal gains made on the suffering of the people. After Marcos and Suharto were forced to step down by the people, their assets were investigated.

Taib must be made to do the same. Allowing him to merely step down and escape punishment will be an injustice to the many people who have suffered from his greed.

Onyourtoes: Whether you step down or not, whether BN retains power or not, all leaders must account for their deeds, past and present. Stepping down is no longer enough. The rakyat will call you to account, piece by piece, all the misdeeds, the abuses and pilferage that have been going on for years.

The rakyat also know that so long as BN remains in power, it will continue to provide shelter to rogue leaders. The rakyat is equally determine to see that shelter removed forever. So the rakyat know what to do. Enough is enough, before it is too late.

Mingxiang: You can run but cannot hide.

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