Sarawak Chief Minister's Abdul Taib Mahmud's statement that he will not cooperate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) because it is "naughty and dishonest" is a non-issue, the MACC said today.

NONE This was because the chief minister of 32 years has denied making this statement, MACC investigation division secretariat assistant commissioner Lim Bee Kean ( left ) told a press conference at the commission's headquarters in Putrajaya today.

"The question of Taib Mahmud not cooperating (with us) does not arise. This is because he has denied saying that the MACC was naughty and dishonest and that he will not cooperate (with the MACC)," Lim said.

Taib's office was on April 12 reported to have denied that he made the remark, calling such media reports on this "false" and also said that the Sarawak chief minister does not comment on the duties of other departments.

Nevertheless, Taib was on April 4, after a BN supreme council meeting, recorded on video saying "they do not deserve my cooperation because they have been quite naughty" in reply to a question on whether he would cooperate with the MACC.

Taib's response was to Global Witness videos

His response was sought to video clips released by international anti-corruption watchdog Global Witness showing Taib's relatives claiming that they could easily get state lands from the chief minister and were offering to sell them to foreign investors.

Lim said to date, all witnesses whose statements had been taken down by the MACC in relation to this case had been cooperative, but declined to say whether the MACC had recorded Taib's statement.

She cited Section 29(4) of the MACC Act 2009 which prevents the commission from divulging contents of its investigations.

Lim said this when asked about DAP's Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng's complaint that his parliamentary question on the action MACC would take against Taib over his "naughty and dishonest" remark and refusal to cooperate was rejected by the Dewan Rakyat secretary.

The House secretary, Rosmee Hamzah, rejected Lim's question on grounds that it was "hypothetical".

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