Evidence of alleged corruption in Sarawak Report: MACC DISINTERESTED

A British journalist who runs an website and online radio critical of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Abdul Mahmud says that her task is not to oust the long-time leader.

In an email interview with Malaysiakini, Clare Rewcastle Brown, who runs the fiercely anti-Taib website Sarawak Report which has exposed the chief minister's alleged global business empire and corrupt activities, said, “I do not see it as my job to bring down Taib. That is for the Sarawakian people to decide.”

Rewcastle Brown, who is sister-in-law of former British prime minister Gordon Brown. is also responsible for underground radio station Radio Free Sarawak, which began broadcasting in November last year on shortwave, said, “I just want to make sure that they receive all the information about what has been happening to their resources and to their wealth, so that they can make an informed choice.”

She argues that she is providing a "vital service from a safe distance" because Sarawakians right to a free press was being denied by the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and abuse of power and points out that it is up to Sarawakians how they wish to spread the news.

The former BBC journalist, who began her career in 1983, also adds that her work relies only on material that can be proven as most of it is a matter of public record and she would readily hand over evidence to the Malaysian authorities.

“Despite several invitations to reply to our accusations, we have heard nothing back from Taib Mahmud, . We would be only too delighted to hand over all this evidence to the Malaysian police and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission should they show the slightest interest though most of it they could have accessed themselves anyway without much trouble,” she said.

The brains behind Sarawak Report and Radio Free Sarawak  were revealed on Wednesday when they decided to go public following several death threats.