A group of human rights NGOs will ask the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to block outgoing Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud from becoming state governor and appoint his relative as the next chief minister.                

Claiming that Taib is securing his clan's rule and may dodge claims of exploiting the state, the group seeks 10,000 signatories for a letter to the King to object Taib being appointed the Yang DiPertua Negeri.

They said that Taib has had an iron grip over Sarawak for 33 years, a reign marked by deforestation, allegations of corruption, people's suffering and trampling on indigenous people's rights.

    

"There are serious concerns that, given his clan’s dynastic dominance over the state, a switch from the office of the chief minister to that of the head of state on the part of Taib would mean an extended rule rather than retirement from active politics," said the statement signed by 55 NGOs and Youth wings of four opposition political parties.

They comprised mainly of Peninsula-based NGOs such as Civil Rights Committee of The KL and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH), Komas, Himpunan Hijau, Suaram, Empower, SAMM and Engage. Many of them were also members of the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih) which champions democracy in the country.

Taib is resigning as CM at the end of this month and last week named Adenan Satem as his successor. Adenan was once married to Taib's younger sister, Zainab Aisah.

 

"Should this come to pass, the two ex-in-laws, would be in charge of Astana Negeri and the Chief Minister’s Office respectively, and would have a full control of Sarawak.

"This would also imply that Taib could be protected by his ex-brother-in-law from investigation and prosecution," the NGOs said.

The NGOs said that they want Taib to answer to allegations of "corruption, land grabbing and tax evasion" during his reign in Sarawak.

"In light of all this, we call upon all Malaysians to stand up and be counted..." they added.

The online petition which was started yesterday has received nearly 300 backers so far.