Anti-graft watchdog Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) has urged the government to delay making Abdul Taib Mahmud the Sarawak governor until the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) clears him over a questionable deal.

 

C4's directors have submitted a complaint to MACC today, based on allegations by NGO Global Witness that a company linked to Taib’s son Mahmud Abdul Bekir has been purportedly used as a conduit to receive up to RM6.6 million in commissions, for a waste disposal project involving a state government joint venture with a German firm.

 

"We believe that the MACC needs to investigate this case. There is significant public interest and we urge that the government to delay Taib's ascent to governorship. We insist on this to ensure that the rights of Sarawakians are not compromised," C4 director Cynthia Gabriel told reporters at press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

 

Taib's eldest son Abdul Bekir ( left ) and his estranged wife Shahnaz Abdul Majid are among the directors of Sarawak Capital.

Both signed the agreement with German company Trienekens GmbH which outlined the RM6.6 million payment.

 

The agreement between Sarawak Capital and Trienekens GmbH was questionable, Gabriel said, as it was signed after Trienekens also entered into a joint venture with the state government to establish Sarawak Waste Management Sdn Bhd to undertake an integrated waste management system project in 1998.

 

Abdul Bekir was also a witness to the Trienekens-Sarawak government deal, she said.

 

London law firm Mishcon de Reya, representing Taib and Abdul Bekir, was contacted by Global Witness to which they responded: "The particular contract that you appear to refer to was not executed in the terms that you imply".

 

Said Gabriel ( right ): "Our question is, what was the role of Bekir when the Sarawak government signed that deal?"

 

But when asked if C4 expected MACC to act promptly, the newly-formed NGO said sadly, it did not, based on the former’s past record.

 

"The issue that we raise is what will happen with our report and I asked specifically, What are your performance indicators?" C4 director Ahmad Farouk, who was also at the press conference said.

 

"And the answer was there was no KPI. Does that mean that the report could be there for three months, three years, thirty years? Nobody knows. That's very sad considering the government’s pledge to have a world class democracy."

 

Taib, the veteran politician, has been hounded by a slew of allegations throughout his 33 year reign as chief minister.

He is expected to resign as chief minister on Friday and go on to assume the post of governor of Sarawak.