Sarawak has an opportunity to seize the future and global attention, but is it looking in all the right directions? Events at the Royal Geographical Society, which the Sarawak state leadership by-passed when in London, pointed to what really makes Borneo special (and wealthy) for the future – its biodiversity ……..
US Department of Justice Launches New Criminal Charges Over 1MDB – PetroSaudi In Crosshairs:
The actual target of the new case involving money diverted to PetroSaudi’s controlling shareholder,Tarek Obaid, and others from Jho Low’s Good Star Limited remains unclear. Some are speculating financial institutions may be under threat from the investigation which prosecutors say they plan to bring to court in around six months time…….
Once again it was the Whistleblower who found himself a target during the Kuwaiti money laundering stage of the 1MDB scandal. This week Bachar Kiwan finally established his rights and recognition through the international court system where Kuwait was condemned for human rights and legal violations and the breaking of its treaty with France over the protection of commercial investments……
For the first time ever, a chief minister of Sabah has been taken to court over a civil claim of Misfeasance – in common language, corruption and abuse of power. Even against the corruption records of predecessors such as the present Governor that is a sobering development……
At a recent meeting with native communities due to be affected by Samling’s latest carbon credit gambit, backed by the state government, protestors asked company officials what benefits there would be for those villagers who are losing rights to their lands? They say the Samling spokesman replied “NONE”!……
Sarawak Report has obtained shocking images of the rampant destruction of highland river beds in the Lawas region, apparently sourcing rock to construct the public highway to Ba Kelalan from Limbang – the multi-billion ringgit Sarawak-Sabah Link Road. Has this been legitimised and does the record flooding of communities downstream owe to this damage caused over the past two years? All signs point to an escalation of the activity as the road enters Phase 2……
1MDB’s ring of fraudsters are using their stolen millions to fund their continuing legal efforts to get off the hook. There are concerns several are coming out on top at the expense of Malaysians, despite the return of RM37 billion thanks to the work of the now disbanded US Kleptocracy Initiative….
Whilst Sarawak’s establishment of business politicians celebrated CNY in the midst of disastrous floods one politician stepped out to show them up. Yet, they must ALL take responsibility for the destruction caused by climate change and unequal development and reverse the resource grabbing they are part of…..
Protecting the environment and vulnerable communities does not sit well with greedy and corrupted decision making. Those in charge need to understand the longterm interests of the people of Sarawak and put it before their own transient obsession with making as much money as they possibly can …
The Hajiji state government compulsorily acquired SFI’s concession areas on grounds of “public purpose”. Yet, they have instead handed the land to front companies for tycoon Syed Moktar who had sought to reduce his own purchase bid to around 10% of what he had previously agreed before the government move …..
