It’s ironical that the chief minister should advise civil servants in Sarawak to resist temptations. Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud should take the cue from Penang’s Lim Guan Eng and declare his assets if he is really concerned about the drop in corruption perception index (CPI) and abuse of power.
Throwing Taib a challenge, Sarawak DAP secretary-general Chong Chien Jien said: “If Taib is really concerned about the drop in CPI and if he really wants to improve it, he should do what the Penang chief minister and his state executive council members are doing – declaring their assets and publishing them in the newspapers.
“I challenge Taib and his ministers to declare their assets if they are really concerned about corruption and abuse of power in the state.
“That’s my challenge to him and don’t just pay lip service by being concerned about the drop in CPI.”
Chong, who is Kota Sentosa assemblyman, was referring to Taib’s call to civil servants to improve on their journey of integrity and not stop at what they have achieved.
According to Chong, Taib’s speech at the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation’s integrity day seemed to be tinged with worry over Malaysia’s drop in the CPI from 33rd position in 1995 to 56th position in 2010.
“The state government should not only be worried, but should also feel remorse. It should do a self-review over the drop in CPI simply because Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia and it is ruled by Taib for more than 30 years.
“In the last 15 years, state government contracts were awarded to companies linked to Barisan Nasional (BN) politicians, and state land alienated and sold at cheap prices to BN politicians without going through the open tender system.
“To a certain extent, Sarawak has a part to play in the drop in CPI, ” Chong said, adding that it was ironical that Taib should make a call for a system to be put in place to ensure greater accountability in the day-to-day management.
Resist temptations
Taib and his family are reported to be one of the richest people in the country allegedly owing several properties overseas worth billions of ringgit.
They were also alleged to have stakes in 332 companies in Malaysia and around the world.
Taib had reportedly reminded civil servants to resist temptation and not be complacent or risk becoming irrelevant.
“Temptations know no boundary. They can happen to those from the lower level right up to the top. We have seen around us within the country or outside that corruption and abuse of power have brought about the downfall of many, including very powerful and influential organisations and individuals.”
Taib had also called for a system to be put in place and that those found guilty should be dealt with firmly and speedily to prevent the problem from spreading.
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