Sarawak’s billions sent abroad: Taib’s international property empire.

Posted Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

The Chief Minister of Sarawak, Abdul Taib Mahmud, started in life with little money, but it is no secret that after 29 year as Chief Minister of Sarawak he and his family are worth billions of US dollars. This did not come from his salary.   In fact, as the world now knows, Abdul Taib Mahmud is famously corrupt on an international scale.  He has poured the wealth of Sarawak into companies owned by his family through giving them government contracts and then secreted that wealth out of the country.  In this way he hopes to hide it from investigators who may claim it back for the people of Sarawak.

The mansion that had Canada talking

Taib Mahmud’s vast family wealth includes major property investments in London, Canada and Australia.

Canada

In Ottawa even the Canadian newspapers have been gossiping about the size of the house owned by Taib’s daughter Jamila – she has been showing it off and it is the second largest mansion in the in the country with lavish decorations inside.  Jamila owns the SAKTO Development Corporation, a multi-million dollar development and construction company based in Ottawa, which controls millions of square feet of office space in Canada, the US and other countries across the world.   No wonder her house is so nice.

Australia

Meanwhile, Taib’s family are listed as the owners of another major company in Australia, Sitehost Pty. Ltd., whose holdings include Adelaide’s swanky 5 Star Hilton Hotel.  The Mahmud family are, of course, well established in the hotel business in Sarawak already.  They own the Hilton in Kuching and the 5 Star Mulu Resort located in one of the few areas of remaining primary rainforest.

Australian 'pied a terre'

London

In London the family has a property portfolio that is managed by a dedicated company.  Clearly, while he owns huge properties in Sarawak, Taib Mahmud likes to keep most of his stolen money tucked around the world in profitable investments.  But you can be sure none of those profits are being taxed in Sarawak!

The Mahmud family keep on surprising people with the extent of their properties please feel free to inform us through our contact section about any further information you might have.

Royal Mulu Resort - all in the family