The Taib Mahmud family is purportedly facing a crisis of dynastic proportions as insiders and figures close to them claim an attempted takeover is underway by ‘outsiders' in the form of the chief minister's sister and his in-laws.

According to whistleblower website Sarawak Report (SR), Chief Minister Taib's close relatives had sent it a "dossier of astonishing information" that explain the move by former deputy education minister and Taib's own cousin, Salleh Jafaruddin, to contest Sarawak's chief minister of 30 years for the seat of Balingian.

NONE The dossier, said SR, makes clear that a faction within the Mahmud family fear the prospects of a takeover of control by a tightly-knit ‘cabal' led by Taib's sister Raziah ( left ) and her husband Robert Geneid.

This, SR claimed further, is what prompted former deputy education minister - the chief minister's own cousin - Salleh to contest Taib in the latter's stronghold of Balingian.

The dossier of information allegedly disclosed that Salleh had actually written to Taib three letters advising him about the "increasingly destructive influence" that Raziah, Robert and a ‘bomoh' named ‘Stella' are exercising over the chief minister to satisfy their "greed" for power and wealth.

The visible degeneration of the sick and elderly Taib allegedly parallel not only Raziah and Robert's increased control over Taib - "particularly since the death of his first wife Laila in early 2009" - but also over Sarawak's land and companies.

His recent marriage to a young Lebanese national, Ragad Waleed, is also allegedly part of the plan as to ensure the Geneids maintain a close watch on Taib.

NONE Ragad ( right ) is said to be a "direct relative" of Robert Geneid.

This is how, claimed the insiders, the Geneid couple and the witchdoctor - whose real name is Kharleen Tashman - have accumulated billions in profit, SR said.

"He [Salleh] was a gentleman opponent who actually wanted to advise Pehin Taib that he was most prepared to assist him in minimising some of the damage arising from the greed by people like Raziah and her husband.

"Of course, he never received any response to the letters he sent to Taib," said SR.

Impending disaster

Sensing the decay and impending disaster that has surrounded the BN campaign and the danger and increasing damage to Sarawak if the Geneid couple succeed in acquiring total control over the reins of the state, Salleh was "forced" to contest against Taib for the seat of Balingian.

"Salleh... realised the growing danger of the people surrounding Taib and the increasing damage to Sarawak if things continue unabated and remained uncorrected. Greed and bomoh are a very lethal combination to any leader," said SR in reference to alleged witchdoctor Stella.

NONE "Salleh decided to fight Taib only after he realised there is no way any concerned rakyat or family members can make Taib listen," said SR, citing the dossier:

"Very concerned about the increasing destructive influence of Raziah, her husband Robert Geneid and their Black Bomoh Stella. ( right )

"Compounding the issue is the Lebanese bomoh who is a cousin of Robert Geneid and she lives in  Raziah's house within Pehin Taib's residence as her second home. Salleh and his emissary simply intended to help salvage the situation from deteriorating further.

"[But] because Taib was heavily influenced by Raziah, her husband and their bomoh, Taib simply chucked aside any advice."

'Trio decided S'wak BN candidates

Among the proofs of their immense influence on matters of the state, said SR, is a paper entitled 'Datuk Raziah's Bomoh List of BN Candidates', which purports to show that Sarawak BN's candidates for this Saturday's state-wide polls were actually decided by the trio.

This is a great pity, SR cited the document as saying, because the candidates were not chosen primarily based on their ability and their performance during their years of service as legislators or to keep hold of and protect BN's huge tracts of land and other possessions.

"Among the candidates criticised by the insider are the candidate for Tupong, Daud Abdul Rahman and for Lambir, Ripin Lambat. The author of the dossier confirms the rumours that the candidate list was vetted by Stella, which created last minute delays," said SR.

"It is also claimed that "Semoi Peri, who had already expressed her wish not to stand, was pressured to stand again for reasons known to Raziah's bomoh.

"Zul Philip, candidate for Jepak was not expected to be chosen, but somehow his name was confirmed to stand by the Raziah bomoh list. All these years he is one candidate who has never failed to show his face close with Pehin and Raziah."

NONE The document suggests that the Geneids' plans stand opposed to the interests even of Taib's Cahya Mata Sarawak, PPES group of companies and his son, Mahmud Abu Bekir ( right) and Mahmud's nominee and partner, Chris Chung.

"Don't they too have a strong reason to want to make sure the selected BN candidates will protect what they had grabbed throughout these years?" asked the document.

According to SR, furthermore, the Geneids are putting into place plans to ensure that current Minister of Planning, Amar Tengah Awang Tengah, takes over from Taib.

"Awang is commonly known to be at Raziah's beck and call whenever she wants something from the state government," SR said citing the document.

"Little wonder, therefore that Amar Awang Tengah was the only one privy to the meeting with them hours before Taib appeared at the PBB HQ for the state election candidates list announcement," it added.