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 Sarawak CM to sue opposition party in alleged link to timber kickback paymentsBy Editor Rengah 2007-04-21 | Sarawak Chief Minister is to sue Opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak and two of its top leaders in a strongly worded letter of demand sent on 20th April 2007. PKR Sarawak State Chief Wan Zainal Wan Sanusi and Stampin Division Chairman See Chee How have been leading the opposition party's campaign to seek the Sarawak Chief Minister's clarification to the allegation that Japanese shipping cartel paid kickback money to companies linked to Sarawak Chief Minister's family to secure exclusive rights to timber export from Sarawak to Japan. Mr. See is also one of the few lawyers in Sarawak who is representing many indigenous communities in Native Customary Rights (NCR) land cases where communities sue the Sarawak Government and private companies for encroaching onto the people's communal lands. Malaysia's premier Internet new portal, Malaysiakini, is the only media to report on the allegation and then followed up with further investigative reports, had also been issued with a demand letter on the same day by Taib Mahmud's lawyer. Japanese papers, Asahi/Herald Tribune and Japan Times or Yomiuri first reported on 29th March 2007 the allegation of kickback payments by Japanese shipping cartel to a Hong Kong registered company, Regent Star to secure exclusive rights to ship timber from Sarawak to Japan. The papers alleged that Regent Star is linked to the Sarawak Chief Minister, who is also the Minister in charge of resources in the state in which forests are included. Japanese media reported that the Japanese shipping cartel strucked a deal with Dewan Niaga (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd in 1981 in which the latter is in charge of lumber export control. The Japanese media also reported that lumber export is controlled by the Sarawak state government on grounds of forest resources protection. A check with the Companies Commission of Malaysia on 10th April 2007 reviewed that among the Dewan Niaga Directors are Abdul Aziz Haji Husain (since 1981) who is the Chief Minister's brother-in-law, Muhammad Tufail Bin Mahmud (since 1991) who is the Chief Minister's brother and another brother Onn Bin Mahmud (since 1988). As the news broke, Malaysia mainstream print and electronic media had chosen to ignore the issue with a complete blackout of the news. Only Malaysiakini reported the issue quoting the Japanese media. PKR Sarawak began a campaign to inform the general public about the allegation by photocopying the media reports from Japan and Malaysiakini and distributing to the general public in Kuching, the Sarawak state capital. This was followed by formal reports to the Malaysian Polis and the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) in Kuching following the Malaysian Prime Minister's public comment for reports to be lodged so that formal investigations could begin - even though there is no such requirement for the ACA to initiate investigation. The Sarawak Chief Minister had threatened to sue in one of his rare public statement on the allegation. His lawyers had since 20th April 2007 issued letters to Malaysiakini and PKR. Details of the letter can be viewed at link below. Reference LinksImage Links
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