Movement for Change Sarawak (MoCS) has demanded that the police investigate Chief Minister Taib Mahmud for claims against corruption first, before responding to calls to probe the NGO.

NONE “Call Taib in to the police station first, and then I will also go in to have my statement recorded,” said MoCS chief Francis Siah ( right in photo ), in a statement to Malaysiakini .

Siah received a call from the police on Friday requesting the latter to come to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Kuching to have his statement recorded .

“I politely told the officer that I would be prepared to do that after the police call in the chief minister to have his statement recorded as well.

“After all, I lodged a police report against Taib first (on March 13) for corruption, money laundering and abuse of power. Surely, there are more reasons to investigate the chief minister than to probe me,” Siah said.

He urged the police not practice “double standards” in acting against him following a police report lodged by Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) Youth, accusing Siah for inciting the public to pressure Taib to resign and calling the movement a national threat.

Siah aims to mobilise some 200,000 people to hold peaceful demonstrations in various parts of Sarawak to force the ageing Taib, who has received numerous allegations of corruption, to relinquish power.

‘Police pawns of politicians’

“Is there one law to deal with the powerful like Taib, and another for an ordinary citizen like me?” asked Siah.

NONE “It is apparent now that a new work culture for an important law enforcement agency such as the police department, has to be included in our agenda,” said Siah, whose movement intends effect reform in the state.  

                

He also criticised the force of operating to the whims and fancies of Taib ( left ), whom Siah alleges had handpicked the Sarawak Police Commissioner.

“I urge the police not to be subservient to its political masters. Even the king is not above the law,” he said, adding that he is a “nobody” and could not possibly pose any threat to the nation.

“How can a nobody be a security threat? Karim Hamzah (Taib’s chief political secretary) has described me as a 'loner with no following' (but then) Wan Hamzah Paie (PBB Youth Kuching spokesperson) claimed that I was planning a demonstration with 200,000 supporters.

“I am confused. Now, is the police acting on just the imagination of some PBB people? That is the nagging question,” he said, adding that it is “disgustingly unprofessional” if the police were indeed acting on politicians’ orders.