Sarawak’s image unaffected by MACC’s probe on Taib, says state BN sec-gen

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KUCHING: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)’s investigation on Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud over allegations of timber corruption will not affect the image of Sarawak, especially internationally.

State Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi said the people should not prejudge the on-going probe as any report or information on the matter remained allegations until proven otherwise by the authority concerned.

“Yes, I believe he (Taib) is innocent,” Dr Rundi, who is also Public Health and Public Utilities Assistant Minister, told reporters after opening the Sarawak Health, Wellness, Beauty and Halal Expo 2011, here, today.

He was asked to comment on MACC commissioner Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed’s statement yesterday that the commission was in the process of gathering more information on the matter following a similar action by the Swiss Anti-Corruption Agency, which recently froze Taib’s assets over allegations of timber corruption.

Asked if the state government was aware of the investigation, Dr Rundi said: “It is not a matter of whether we are aware or not. The authority has the right to investigate and prove it.”

According to a foreign news report, Swiss Federation president Micheline Calmy-Rey was reported to be aware of the allegations and had forwarded the information on Taib’s assets in Switzerland to its regulatory body, Finma (the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority) for investigation.

On another controversial issue, Dr Rundi said the lack of funds was hampering the relevant authorites to clean up the highly-polluted Sungei Tabuan here being used as a dumping ground for domestic waste by nearby villages and housing areas.

Lead agencies, including the Kuching City South Council, Sarawak Rivers Board, Health Department and Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), he said, must be able to engage non-governmental organisations and the local community through “gotong-royong” activities to clean up the river instead of pointing fingers at each other.

He said the opposition DAP, which had expressed its willingness to bid for federal funds to clean up the river, was also welcomed to take the initiative and responsibility to combat the problem.

Two other rivers that had been recorded as among the most polluted rivers in Sarawak were Sungai Maong here and Sungai Miri, he added. – Bernama