‘All a conspiracy to tarnish family name’

KUALA LUMPUR: A former Sarawak chief minister's son, Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib, told the Syariah High Court here today, that claims he and his family owned assets worth billions of ringgit were untrue.
He alleged it was a conspiracy planned by the opposition parties, including Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and lawyers representing his former wife, Shahnaz A. Majid.
He said the parties concerned had used his former wife's claim for alimony of RM100 million to shame him and his family.
A verbal exchange took place between Mahmud Abu Bekir and Shahnaz's counsel, Dr Mohd Rafie Shafie, when the former claimed that the lawyer was also involved in the conspiracy as he (Dr Mohd Rafie) was related to Anwar.
Mohd Rafie's son, Mohd Reza, is Anwar's son-in-law.
"These media and political attacks became popular when my former wife and her lawyer defamed, lied and exploited facts in this court.
"This case has not only caused sadness for me and the plaintiff (Shahnaz), but it was also used for politics.
"This court is used by politicians from the opposition parties to tarnish my name and that of my family, as well as Sarawak, just because the plaintiff had made a statement that 'Taib is the richest man in Malaysia'," added Mahmud Abu Bekir, the son of the current Yang di-Pertua Negri of Sarawak, Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Taib had been the chief minister for 33 years.
Mahmud Abu Bekir also denied claims that he owned many properties abroad, as well as a private jet.
On the claim that he owned several companies, Mahmud Abu Bekir said he obtained bank loans to carry out his business and did not merely depend on his father.
He also told the court that he had never abused or hit Shahnaz, but it was the woman who was violent and hot-tempered.
He said he gave Shahnaz RM10,000 a month from 1998 until the early period of their divorce and also bought her a house, costing RM1.5 million, in Damansara.
The hearing before Syariah Judge Muhamad Abdul Karim Wahab continues on Sept 8. – Bernama