{"id":37342,"date":"2014-02-18T04:24:36","date_gmt":"2014-02-17T20:24:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dapmalaysia.org\/en\/?p=37342"},"modified":"2014-02-18T04:24:36","modified_gmt":"2014-02-17T20:24:36","slug":"objection-to-taib-mahmuds-speculated-appointment-as-sarawaks-head-of-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dapmalaysia.org\/en\/objection-to-taib-mahmuds-speculated-appointment-as-sarawaks-head-of-state\/","title":{"rendered":"Objection to Taib Mahmud’s speculated appointment as Sarawak\u2019s head of state"},"content":{"rendered":"

We, the undersigned, register our strongest objection to the speculated appointment of Taib Mahmud as the Head of State (Yang di-Pertua Negeri) of Sarawak after his resignation as Chief Minister for 33 years. Considering that his assumption of the dignified office would be a national disgrace, we hereby list out the reasons why he must be stopped from doing so as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Outrageous Corruption and Exploitation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Taib Mahmud has abused his power as Chief Minister in the past 33 years by outrageously exploiting Sarawak\u2019s natural resources for personal gains. Sarawak is said to be having the highest rate of deforestation in Asia, reportedly having lost more than 90% of its primary forest to logging. Taib\u2019s administration has also been building economically unjustified and environmentally detrimental mega dams throughout the state. Ironically, Sarawak remains one of the poorest states in Malaysia despite all her natural resources, while Taib has become one of the country\u2019s richest man. A detailed research by Swiss-based NGO Bruno Manser Fund estimated Taib\u2019s wealth at US$15 billion (RM46 billion) and a combined net worth of 20 Taib family members at close to US$21 billion (RM64 billion). International NGO Global Witness’ undercover investigation implicates Taib’s involvement in corruption, land grabbing and tax evasion through his control over licenses on logging and oil palm plantation in Sarawak.<\/p>\n

2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Grave Human Rights Violations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Taib\u2019s authoritarian rule in Sarawak has seen democracy and human rights being undermined on a daily basis, as civil and political rights are severely repressed, media freedom heavily restricted and elections blatantly rigged.<\/p>\n

In particular, Taib has committed mass human rights violation against the natives especially the interior communities, despite himself being a native from the Melanau group. A majority of them have been denied development and live in extreme poverty. Many have been uprooted from their Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands and experiencing cultural genocide as Taib, his families and cronies brazenly\/wantonly grab land for mega dam projects, logging and plantation. In his own constituency in Balingian, the locals suffer from serious pollution caused by an Aluminium factory, whose operation Taib had approved.<\/p>\n

The Head of State should be a symbol of unity for\u00a0 Sarawakians from all walks of life and of all political persuasions. Clearly, Taib \u2013 emblematic of ethnic and political divide while having brought much suffering to so many Sarawakians — is completely unfit for the office of Yang diPertua Negeri.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dynastic Rule<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are serious concerns that, given his clan\u2019s dynastic dominance over the state, a switch from the office of the Chief Minister to that of the Head of State on the part of Taib would mean an extended rule rather than retirement from active politics. It is worth reminding that his maternal uncle Rahman Yaakob stepped down as Chief Minister to become the Head of State in 1981, enabling the uncle and nephew to take a firm grip on Sarawak. Today, Taib\u2019s chosen successor is none other than his ex-brother-in-law, ie. Adenan Satem, with the transition scheduled for February 28, 2014, exactly the day when the current Head of State\u2019s term ends. Should this come to pass, the two ex-in-laws, in charge of Astana Negeri and the Chief Minister\u2019s Office respectively, would have a full control of Sarawak, which would also imply that Taib could be protected by his ex-brother-in-law from investigation and prosecution of his wrongdoings against the People of Sarawak.<\/p>\n

In light of all this, we call upon all Malaysians to stand up and be counted in stopping Taib\u2019s appointment as the Head of State, for the people of Sarawak deserve a true democracy in which no one clan or family should be permitted to administer the state like a private property or entity.<\/p>\n

Besides that, Taib must be held accountable for his crimes against Sarawak and Sarawakians. Taib Mahmud\u2019s only rightful place is the accused\u2019s dock facing charges on corruption, land grabbing and tax evasion, not Astana Negeri.<\/p>\n

An online petition has been set up to allow individuals to also voice against the purported appointment. We invite all to sign the online petition here:\u00a0http:\/\/chn.ge\/1cbEJuh<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

*\u00a0This is a joint statement issued on 17 February 2014 by the following civil society organizations:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

NGOs<\/strong><\/p>\n

1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ALIRAN<\/p>\n

2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 All Women’s Action Society\uff08AWAM\uff09<\/p>\n

3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 BARAMKINI<\/p>\n

4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 BERSIH Sibu<\/p>\n

5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Center for Orang Asli Concerns\u00a0\uff08COAC\uff09<\/p>\n

6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Civil Rights Committee of The KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall<\/p>\n

7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Community Development Center<\/p>\n

8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Damn the Dams Action Group<\/p>\n

9\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ENGAGE<\/p>\n

10\u00a0\u00a0 Gerakan Bunga Raya<\/p>\n

11\u00a0\u00a0 Hands Of Malaysians Extended\uff08HOME\uff09<\/p>\n

12\u00a0\u00a0 Himpunan Hijau<\/p>\n

13\u00a0\u00a0 Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas\uff08JERIT\uff09<\/p>\n

14\u00a0\u00a0 JIHAD for JUSTICE<\/p>\n

15\u00a0\u00a0 Johor People’s Action Group\uff08JPAG\uff09<\/p>\n

16\u00a0\u00a0 Johor Yellow Flame<\/p>\n

17\u00a0\u00a0 Kajian Politik untuk Perubahan\uff08KPRU\uff09<\/p>\n

18\u00a0\u00a0 Kelab Bangsar Utama<\/p>\n

19\u00a0\u00a0 Kill the Bill<\/p>\n

20\u00a0\u00a0 KOMAS<\/p>\n

21\u00a0\u00a0 LLG Cultural Development Centre<\/p>\n

22\u00a0\u00a0 Malaysia Youth & Students Democratic Movement\uff08DEMA\uff09<\/p>\n

23\u00a0\u00a0 Malaysian for Beng Hock<\/p>\n

24\u00a0\u00a0 Malaysian Spring Single Mothers\u2019Society<\/p>\n

25\u00a0\u00a0 Malaysian\u00a0 Election Observers Network\uff08MEO-Net\uff09<\/p>\n

26\u00a0\u00a0 Mama Bersih<\/p>\n

27\u00a0\u00a0 National Indian Rights Action Team\uff08NIAT\uff09<\/p>\n

28\u00a0\u00a0 Northen Green Youth<\/p>\n

29\u00a0\u00a0 Oriental Hearts and Mind Study Institute\uff08OHMSI\uff09<\/p>\n

30\u00a0\u00a0 Pahang Ban Cyanide in Gold Mining Action Group\uff08BCAC\uff09<\/p>\n

31\u00a0\u00a0 Penang Voters Awareness<\/p>\n

32\u00a0\u00a0 Peoples’ Green Coalition<\/p>\n

33\u00a0\u00a0 Persatuan Alumni PBTUSM KL & Selangor<\/p>\n

34\u00a0\u00a0 Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor\uff08EMPOWER\uff09<\/p>\n

35\u00a0\u00a0 Persatuan Komuniti Prihatin Selangor dan KL<\/p>\n

36\u00a0\u00a0 Persatuan Sahabat Wanita, Selangor\uff08PSWS\uff09<\/p>\n

37\u00a0\u00a0 Pertubuhan Pembangunan Wanita Malaysia, PJ Branch<\/p>\n

38\u00a0\u00a0 Pertubuhan Solidariti Hijau Kuantan\uff08PSHK\uff09<\/p>\n

39\u00a0\u00a0 Radio Bangsar Utama<\/p>\n

40\u00a0\u00a0 Sahabat Rakyat Working Committee<\/p>\n

41\u00a0\u00a0 Save Malaysia Stop Lynas\uff08SMSL\uff09<\/p>\n

42\u00a0\u00a0 SAVE Sarawak’s Rivers Network<\/p>\n

43\u00a0\u00a0 Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia\uff08SABM\uff09<\/p>\n

44\u00a0\u00a0 SEED Lemon Melaka<\/p>\n

45\u00a0\u00a0 Selangor and KL Hokkien Association Youth Section<\/p>\n

46\u00a0\u00a0 Sembang-sembang Forum<\/p>\n

47\u00a0\u00a0 Serdang Bharu School Alumni Youth Section<\/p>\n

48\u00a0\u00a0 Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia\uff08SAMM\uff09<\/p>\n

49\u00a0\u00a0 Solidarity for Civil Rights in China\uff08SCRC\uff09<\/p>\n

50\u00a0\u00a0 Suaram Penang<\/p>\n

51\u00a0\u00a0 SUARAM<\/p>\n

52\u00a0\u00a0 Sunflower Electoral Education Movement\uff08SEED\uff09<\/p>\n

53\u00a0\u00a0 Sunflower Paper<\/p>\n

54\u00a0\u00a0 The Islamic Renaissance Front<\/p>\n

55\u00a0\u00a0 Writer Alliance for Media Independence\uff08WAMI\uff09<\/p>\n

Political Parties\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Angkatan Muda Keadilan\uff08AMK\uff09<\/p>\n

2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DAP Socialist Youth\uff08DAPSY\uff09<\/p>\n

3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dewan Pemuda PAS Malaysia\uff08DPPM\uff09<\/p>\n

4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Parti Sosialis Malaysia<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We, the undersigned, register our strongest objection to the speculated appointment of Taib Mahmud as the Head of State (Yang di-Pertua Negeri) of Sarawak after his resignation as Chief Minister for 33 years. Considering that his assumption of the dignified office would be a national disgrace, we hereby list out the reasons why he must […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[482],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-37342","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-opinion"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dapmalaysia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37342","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dapmalaysia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dapmalaysia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dapmalaysia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dapmalaysia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37342"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dapmalaysia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37342\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dapmalaysia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37342"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dapmalaysia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37342"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dapmalaysia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}