Our Work

Stop Timber Corruption in Sarawak

Since 1981, the Malaysian state of Sarawak in Borneo has been governed by Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, one of the most corrupt politicians in Southeast Asia. While Taib himself has personally profited immensely from the destruction of the Borneo rainforest through logging and oil palm plantations, Sarawak’s indigenous communities have lost their land, the source of their livelihood, and have been increasingly marginalized.

Taib and his family members have used the timber wealth of Sarawak to acquire assets worth billions of dollars in Malaysia, Canada, the UK, Australia, the United States and other countries. All of these assets should be restituted to the people of Sarawak, and the Taib family should be prosecuted for corruption, the abuse of public funds, fraud, money-laundering, tax evasion and other related crimes. (Text from http://www.stop-timber-corruption.org/).

A network of activists from around the world have joined together to take action and to hold protests outside Taib-owned properties, as well as buildings and institutions that have otherwise honored him. The Borneo Project has helped spearhead protests in Seattle and San Francisco, joining forces with activists in Canada, Switzerland, and Australia, to bring light to Taib’s corruption.

UPDATES

9.12.11: Deutsche Bank Faces Money Laundering Probe Over Taib

11.14.11: Breaking News UK Investigating Corruption of Sarawak Chief Minister

12.4.11: Richer than the Queen, Top TV Coverage in Canada as Taibs Wealth is Exposed

12.13.11: Malaysian Prosecutors Asked to Arrest Abdul Taib Mahmud on Corruption Charges

12.16.11: Victory for Native Rights as Raziah Sister of Taib is Ordered to Pay Damages for Land Grabs in Sarawak

1.18.12: Plans to Sue the Chief Minister of Sarawak Unveiled Yesterday

4.1.12: Taib has made Mega Millions from his Dam Projects

4.5.12: Malaysian Foreign Minister Named in MACC Investigation Into Sabah Timber Corruption

4.21.12: UBS Faces Money Laundering Allegations in Malaysian Timber Scandal

4.22.12: Swiss Authorities Confirm Money Laundering Investigation Against UBS

6.12.12: UBS Faces Criminal Complaint Over Malaysia Ties