Taib to respond to graft allegations today

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TAIB

KUCHING: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said he will make an official statement today on the allegations of corruption against him.

Taib, however did not elaborate on how he would be responding to the ploy by the opposition of making use of the ongoing Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation against him.

“They (the opposition) are barking at the wrong tree. You will have a surprise from me tomorrow,” Taib told the media after attending the opening of state legislative assembly (DUN) sitting by Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin at DUN complex here yesterday.

Before the DUN sitting, DUN Speaker, Dato Sri Asfia Awang Nassar had told the media that the opposition would table a motion on the allegation of the MACC against Taib at the ongoing DUN sitting.

The opposition had picked up the issue after MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohammad had confirmed that MACC was investigating Taib over allegation of timber corruption in the state on June 9.

Abu Kassim was responding to a question on whether MACC would take action against Taib after the Swiss Federation president Micheline Calmy was reported to have forwarded the information on Taib’s assets in Switzerland to its regulatory body, the Swiss Financial market Supervisory Authority for investigation.