Source: MiriCommunity.net. |
On the 18th February
2011, the Bruno Manser Fund launched a campaign to “Stop Timber Corruption”,
focused on the Chief Minister of the Malaysian state of Sarawak, Abdul Taib Mahmud
(“Taib”). Since 1981, Sarawak has been governed by Taib, an exceptionally
powerful and corrupt man, who has abused his public office in a spectacular way
to enrich himself and his closest family members.
While Taib and his
family members have personally profited immensely from the destruction of the
Borneo rainforest through logging and oil palm plantations, Sarawak’s
indigenous communities have lost their land, the source of their livelihood and
have been increasingly marginalized. IWGIA’s Report “The Indigenous World – 2012” , states, „Taib Mahmud
and his family are causing discontent among the indigenous peoples and civil
society in general.
The Stop Timber
Corruption campaign has built up international pressure against the corrupt
Taib family and pressure to put a stop to timber corruption in Sarawak.“ Abdul
Taib Mahmud has been Chief Minister of Sarawak since 1981 and is concurrently
Finance Minister and Planning and Resources Minister of Sarawak. He has long
been criticized for corrupt practices and abuse of office but Malaysian authorities
have failed to take action against him, despite an ongoing
investigation by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC).
Taib and his family
members have illegally acquired assets worth billions of dollars in Malaysia,
Canada, the UK, Australia, the United States and other countries. As part of
the campaign, BMF conducted research into Taib business in Malaysia and
overseas which uncovered the vast dimensions of the family’s illicit assets.
The findings exposed that Malaysian potentate “Taib” and his family have a
stake in over 400 companies around the globe and hold illicit
assets worth several billion US dollars.[The Taib Timber Mafia, page 5]
Read the full article: Click HERE.
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