Pray for my father's health, says Taib's daughter

Hanifah Hajar Taib, the youngest daughter of former Sarawak governor Abdul Taib Mahmud, called for prayers for her ailing father.

“Pray for him to get well,” Hanifah told reporters on the sidelines of a Malaysian Employers Federation conference in Petaling Jaya this morning.

The deputy economy minister said this when asked about Taib’s latest condition, following his reported treatment at the Normah Medical Specialist Centre’s intensive care unit in Kuching.

Hanifah (above), however, declined further comments on speculations surrounding her father’s status, including a reported alleged abduction by his wife Raghad Kurdi Taib.

In an Instagram story last night, Raghad denied she had abducted Taib from his hospital ward and claimed to have proof of permission to discharge him in the form of a handwritten nurse’s note.

Yesterday, Sarawak police chief Mancha Ata confirmed ongoing investigations under Section 336 of the Penal Code for rash or negligent acts that endanger human life or the personal safety of others.

The probes were based on two separate police reports, one lodged by a doctor who alleged that late Saturday night, a close family member had removed all medications attached to Taib without alerting hospital staff.

He was then put in a wheelchair and brought out of the hospital.

A second police report by another family member was reportedly lodged on Sunday based on the first report.

‘Concern for Taib’s well-being’

Separately Raghad, in an open letter to Sarawakians cited “images and news” which she claimed had tarnished her image and reputation as the wife of the former Sarawak governor.

“My only concern at the moment is the well-being of my husband.

“I humbly request please stop all these assumptions and malicious accusations toward me as my priority is only to take care of my husband at this point,” she said.

”Please do not believe in any of the rumours about me.

”Though I was not born here, now I’m Malaysian and will always be a Malaysian,” said Syrian-born Raghad.

Contrary to claims that she was preparing to leave Malaysia, Raghad, who married Taib in 2010 after the death of his first wife, said she would remain in Sarawak and continue with her charitable efforts.

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