Malaysian Sarawak state leader denies secret Swiss account

Jun 22, 2011, 9:42 GMT

Kuala Lumpur - The head of Malaysia's eastern Sarawak state on Borneo island Wednesday denied accusations that he holds secret Swiss bank accounts for riches obtained through corrupt practices.

Abdul Taib Mahmud, who has been chief minister for a record 30 years, has long fought off allegations of widespread corruption and pillaging of the rich resources of his state.

Last month the Bruno Manser Fund, a Swiss-based group championing the rights of Sarawak's indigenous tribal communities and fighting the destruction of Borneo rainforests, claimed that Abdul Taib was being investigated by Switzerland's money laundering watchdog over his alleged Swiss accounts, assets and investments.

On Wednesday, he denied to the state legislature what he called the 'malicious reports ... utterly false and evidently politically motivated.'

Allegations of abuse of power and corruption continue Abdul Taib, particularly on the land and timber concessions allegedly given to relatives and political allies.

Questions about government-approved logging and deforestation in the state, home to some of the most-endangered wildlife, began circulating in the 1980s.