Who is the deputy minister from Sarawak being probed by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) for allegedly taking bribes?

This is the burning question after outgoing Sarawak ACA chief Mohd Jamidan Abdullah said yesterday that one of the five deputy ministers from the state has been under investigation since last November under Section 11A of the Anti-Corruption Act.

(Section 11A concerns government agents receiving bribes for acts that relate to his/her principal affairs be that of a minister or civil servant)

The five deputy ministers are Joseph Salang Gandum (Foreign Affairs) ( left ), Robert Lau Hoi Chew (Housing and Local Government), Dr Tiki Lafe (Rural and Regional Development), Douglas Uggah Embas (Transport) and Joseph Entulu (Prime Minister's Department).

Mohd Jamidan said investigations commenced after a complaint was filed against the deputy minister, whom he did not name, last November.

He indicated that the agency was carrying out the investigation as there was a basis to the complaint, adding that once investigations are completed, the papers would be turned over to the Attorney-General's Chambers for further action.

The revelation has caused an uproar in certain circles and there is intense speculation on the identity of the deputy minister.

Relatives, friends and associates of the five deputy ministers have been asking for more specific information but the ACA office in Kuching was not prepared to shed any more light on the matter.

Five suspects

A close associate of one deputy minister told malaysiakini today that Mohd Jamidan's statement has put the five in a spot.

"It is certainly stressful when all five have become suspects," he said.

Salang, the foreign affairs deputy minister, is now without a party following the de-registration of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS). He is currently awaiting for an answer to his application along with four others from the defunct PBDS to join Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).

Lau, the housing and local government deputy minister, is from the Sarawak United People's Party (Supp). The Sibu parliamentarian is part of, what is known in his constituency, as the Barisan Nasional 'Visionary Team' - which has been credited for the transformation of the Sibu Town.

As one-time president of the Sibu Municipal Council, Lau has been instrumental for some of the beautification projects in Sibu, including the Town Square. He was appointed to his present position after the last general election.

Rural and Regional Development deputy minister, Tiki, is from the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).

The number two man in the Transport Ministry, Douglas Uggah, is the PBB Youth chief. He is a leading figure of the Pesaka (Dayak) wing of the party, helmed by Chief Minister Taib Mahmud. One of the key government projects in Sarawak under his ministry is the upgrading of the Kuching International Airport at a cost of RM640 million.

Joseph Entulu, the deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department, was formerly a state assistant minister. He is aligned to the former PBDS faction led by Dr James Masing and is now in the newly formed Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS). He was appointed to his current position after the last general elections.

ACA tightlipped

Contacted later, an ACA official remained tightlipped on the matter, even refusing to state if the deputy minister under probe was of Dayak origin.

"I don't know," was all he said. However, he added that his office had received calls from people wanting to know the identity.

An associate of another deputy minister told malaysiakini that the person should be named in order to be fair to the other deputy ministers.

He said that once investigations are completed, the person could be charged if there is grounds to do so or a public announcement be made to clear his name, if there is no basis to the complaint.

"Otherwise it will lead to endless speculation, not to mention the stressful situation that the individuals and their family members face," he added.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.