Lawyer caught on video denies NGO's allegations

by **Cals** Tue 19 Mar 2013, 16:33

Lawyer caught on video denies NGO's allegations
Business & Markets 2013
Written by Meena Lakshana of fz.com
Tuesday, 19 March 2013 15:53

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PETALING JAYA (March 19): The firm of a lawyer who was filmed candidly speaking of conspiring with authorities to evade tax payments and expedite land deals in Sarawak, has categorically denied allegations.

In the closing segment of the video which was released by non-governmental organisation Global Witness, Alvin Chong and Partners Kuching, which is also linked to family members of Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, responded: “We categorically deny our Mr Chong acted as legal spokesperson for the alleged party.”

“We deny any discussions to allegedly evade tax and if there were any purported discussions these were strictly hypothetical.”

The organisation that champions environmental and human rights released the video today to news organisations Malaysiakini and Al Jazeera, alleging financial misconduct and corruption over the sale of land to be converted to oil palm PLANTATION []s in Sarawak.

The video was filmed undercover by Global Witness journalists, posing as investors.

Also captured in the flim were the land owners – Abdul Taib’s family members – who seemed to have showed no remorse over the loss of livelihoods and erosion of rights of indigenous people living on the land.

The video, hosted and posted on YouTube, has fast caught up and gone viral on Facebook, creating a frenzy in the social media sphere.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz did not respond to calls or SMSes from FZ.com