Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has been urged to act swiftly on allegations of corrupt practice by Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud and those close to him, following a sting operation by international transparency group Global Witness.

NONE "This only strengthens our argument (that there is abuse of power and corruption in Sarawak). An international body has scrutinised accounts and alleges abuse of power," said PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

"If Najib has backbone and courage, it is impossible for him to stay silent on this," he said at a joint press conference following a Pakatan leadership council meeting in Kuala Lumpur today.

He argued that the information and evidence adduced in the Global Witness expose are so compelling that it calls for action.

"We expect Najib to immediately respond to the allegations or take appropriate action."

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said Najib has shown he cannot seem to rein in Taib.

"It seems the PM is unable to walk the talk. The Sarawak CM seems to be more powerful then the PM," he said, noting that Najib had said there would be a new chief minister after the last state polls but that Taib is still in office.

NONE Lim also said this is the second person - after former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad - that Najib seems beholden to.

Global Witness had hired an actor to impersonate a timber businessman keen on doing business in Sarawak.

The NGO documented and videotaped meetings, discussions and transactions that took place when several members of Taib's family allegedly approached him to offer him express entry into the Sarawak timber industry.

Much of what transpired, alleged the NGO, seems to involve under the table deals that led to the sale of land still inhibited by natives, as well as fat commissions for companies owned by close relatives of Taib.

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