Fourteen thousand people have signed an online petition urging Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to set up a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to probe the corruption in Sarawak allegedly involving Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud's family.

 

The petition was printed on 400 pieces of paper, measuring three-inches thick, and handed to the prime minister's office by civil society groups this morning.

 

NONE Sarawakian filmmaker Linus Chung ( in blue T-shirt ), who was among three people who initiated the petition, said that the onus was now on Najib to show that his " janji ditepati (promises fulfilled)" slogan means business.

"If Taib is innocent, than nothing will happen to him,” he said, after submitting the documents to one of Najib's aides, who promised to bring the matter to his boss.

 

The petition was initiated following London-based human rights group Global Witness' video documentary of a sting operation on some of Taib's relatives and alleged business associates.

Double standards

Taib's relatives and the businessmen were caught on video stating how they would use their links with the chief minister to buy land cheaply. Taib has since denied that his relatives were his brokers.

 

Chung said that apart from the allegations made by Global Witness, Ng said the RCI must also look into the involvement of Taib's family in the construction of 12 dams under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) project.

 

NONE He said that Najib must respond over the establishment of the RCI as the general election is just right around corner.

 

Meanwhile, Suaram executive director E Nalini, who were among civil society group leaders accompanying Chung, said the authorities seem to be taking the matter lightly.

 

In contrast, Nalini said investigations by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) and agencies against Suaram were swift and given prominent media coverage.

 

“Why are there so many reports of corruptions which were exposed by so many people; why was there no action taken by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission?

“This is a double-standard practiced by the government, we want this to end. Start by investigating Taib,” she added.

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