It reported that the Sarawak police have started investigations into the poison-pen letter following reports by Barisan Nasional State Assemblymen currently meeting in Kuching and who were the first to receive the letter as well as a police report lodged by the State Secretary, Datuk Haji Abdul Husain.
The poison-pen letter, purportedly authored by one Haji Suhaili bin Haji Daud & Co. of the Persatuan Kebangsaan Melayu Sarawak (PKMS), states among others a reward notice supposedly supplied by International NGOs through Bruno Manser Foundation.
The report said:
"The reward was for the murdering or inflicting of permanent disability to Taib, his families and his two deputies."The bounty for Taib's son, Abu Bekir was US$2 million, Sulaiman Abdul Rahman also US$2 million, wife Laila US$1.5 million, Taib himself US$1 million, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Alfred Jabu US$100,000 and Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. George Chan US$100,000.
"State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief, SAC II Abdul Razak Haji Hassan when contacted yesterday told The Malaysian Today that they have begun investigating the case.
"'The police will not leave any stone unturned in the effort to trace the author or source of the widely distributed poison-pen letter."
Various opposition groups in Sarawak have denied involvement in
the poison-pen letter.
There is no need for the Sarawak DAP to dissociate itself from the poison-pen letter because such despicable and heinous tactics is completely against the political culture of the DAP based on the party's 35-year history and record.
DAP condemns totally without hesitation and in the strongest possible terms such dastardly poison-pen letter of death threats and bounties against Taib, his family members and two deputies as we do not want such political culture in Sarawak and Malaysia which goes against our concept and commitment to democratic and constitutional change.
The Police should conduct a full and thorough investigation into the poison-pen letter to identify its true origins, as no one knows whether there is such an outfit like the alleged Bruno Manser Foundation or Haji Suhaili bin Haji Daud & Co. of the Persatuan Kebangsaan Melayu Sarawak (PKMS)
The poison-pen letter could be the work of the Taib's enemies either outside the Sarawak Barisan Nasional or even inside the ruling coalition, with a variety of motives isuch as to raise political temperatures and fabricate instability and unrest in the state to justify high-handed repression against the Opposition on the ground of the death threats and bounties against Taib, his family members, Alfred Jabu and George Chan.
The Police should investigate and announce without delay whether the poison-pen letter is the work of outsiders or insiders.
(20/5/2001)