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| TAIB MAHMUD and son Abu Bekir - Is said to be one of the world's richest men. Where did the money come from ? |
by Maria Begum
Little has been said on the power transition plan for the
Sarawak leadership. Sure, there have been a few local politicians making
assertions that they cannot live if Taib Mahmud is not in the picture, and some
are also saying that the politician, who has virtually made a monarchy of his
role as Chief Minister, is still relevant to the development of Sarawak. There
are plans which only he alone can pull through for the people of Sarawak, they
nod sagely.
Maybe so when there are still 16 dams to be built and lands
to be grabbed and until every piece of the business pie is directly under his
and family's your thumb.To an extent, leaders who overstay have the habit of
thinking that they are immortal. And this seems to be the case with Taib
Mahmud. He is immortal in the eyes of his followers and believers.
Thus, many are now resigned to waiting for the veteran
politician to kick the bucket. Yes, this may sound awful but Taib has done
awful things to many people. And among those looking forward to Taib checking
out may include Prime Minister Najib Razak and his political cronies from the
peninsula.
Taib
out, Umno in?
There was once a school of thought that without Taib in the
picture, Umno could have a foothold in Sarawak. Yet, in recent years, even
without Taib, the people of Sarawak would be the first to say, they do not want
Umno. To understand why, one needs to just look across the border from Sarawak
to Sabah and see Umno’s incredible mismanagement when they are given the chance
to run the government.
So for now, Najib is content to leave Taib alone, allowing
time and tide to take its natural toll. Already, Taib has had to deal with
corruption investigations launched in three countries into the various business
entities that have a direct or indirect link to him. And if corruption alone
was not enough, he now has to contend with the fact that he may have to play
witness to his son, Abu Bekir Mahmud's divorce proceedings in the Kuala Lumpur
Syariah High Court.
Make no mistake, this divorce is a prickly issue for Taib.
Foreign corruption cases can be sidelined by litigation and such but his son’s
divorce proceedings may open the lid to the immense wealth that their family -
and indirectly Taib - have surely accumulated through the years.
Half-half
Abu Bekir’s wife Shahnaz Abdul Majid is applying for a
RM400million divorce settlement, a handsome sum but why RM400 million?
Shahnaz had filed applications on Feb 21 to get RM300mil in
matrimonial property (harta sepencarian) and RM100mil in gifts (mutaah). She is
claiming 50% of all assets such as seven luxury cars, houses in various
locations and land in Sarawak, companies and shares. Alternatively, she is
asking for the assets to be sold off and the proceeds to be divided equally
between them.
In her application for matrimonial property, Shahnaz stated
that Mahmud held the executive chairman post in Syarikat Cahya Mata Sarawak and
their joint assets include shares in 15 different companies including Cahaya
Mata Sarawak and Sarawak Cable Bhd as well as savings in Employees Provident
Fund and Amanah Saham Bumiputera units.
Thus Bekir had the capability to pay her the amount she was
asking for.
How
much is Taib worth
Shahnaz has a MBA in Finance and at one time sat on the Board
for Cahya Mata Sarawak. So she knows fully the financial worth of the Cahya
Mata Sarawak and the true value of Taib’s wealth.
So, what is the true value of Taib’s wealth now? How many
billions and zeroes will it involve? Is he really one of the richest men in the
world?
The divorce settlement alone would give us a glimpse, and
further probing by foreign anti-corruption agencies may add further information
to nail down a more precise figure. And while this is all happening, the MACC
is quietly sitting in the corner “gathering information”.
A recent request to discuss Taib’s wealth in Parliament was
shot down by the Speaker of the state assembly with the flimsy reason that the
matter was being investigated by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission.
Yes, the MACC is gathering information but the foreign
agencies and the public here seem to be getting it faster than they do!
Source : MC
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