United Nations heard demands from 21 NGOs from nine countries to 'reprimand' Malaysia for failing to act against Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud.
KUCHING: Global pressure for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to haul up Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud went one step further when NGOs from nine countries met with United Nations officials in a “closed-door meeting to discuss possible steps” including “imposing sanctions” against Malaysia.
Accusing the Malaysia authorities of “deliberately and actively protecting Taib”, 21 NGOs from Malaysia, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, Nepal and Australia called for the UN to “reprimand” and “impose sanctions or take other appropriate measures” against Malaysia for its “inaction” against Taib.
The NGOs claimed that Malaysia, which is a signatory to UNCAC (UN Convention against Corruption) and UNTOC (UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime), has “systematically breached its obligations under the international anti-money laundering treaties”.
The NGOs had earlier rallied in front of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna, the secretariat of the UN’s anti-corruption and anti-money-laundering treaties.
The NGOs also submitted a letter of complaint to UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon.
In the letter, the NGOs criticised the Malaysian authorities for “granting unlimited legal and political protection to Taib” whom they described as the “chief culprit” in the large-scale logging of Sarawak’s rainforest.
In the letter, the NGOs, led by the Swiss-based Bruno Manser Fund (BMF), said: “Malaysia’s failure to charge Taib with criminal and other offences is contrary to its international duties and legal obligations as a party to UNCAC and UNTOC.”
“It is alleged that the Malaysian authorities are deliberately and actively protecting Taib and his family members from criminal prosecution.
No action from Malaysian authorities
BMF also noted that complaints with Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) were futile.
It noted that last December, a similar coalition of NGOs had provided the Malaysian authorities with detailed evidence of Taib’s crimes and urged them to arrest and prosecute Taib and his family members.
“But the Attorney-General, the Inspector-General of Police and the MACC failed to reply to or comment on the NGOs’ grievances.
“It is also worth noting that the MACC appears not to be independent.
“It has no real control, but rather appears to be used as a tool to keep the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition in power, of which Taib is a key supporter.”
Taib has come under global scrutiny after BMF revealed that his family allegedly owned or held business interest in more than 400 companies in 25 countries and offshore financial centres.
The accumulation of “unexplainable” wealth has been linked to Taib’s post as Sarawak chief minister since 1981. Taib has also concurrently held the posts of State Finance Minister and State Natural Resources Minister, giving him overwhelming powers.
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