KUALA LUMPUR – Former Sarawak governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud was not kidnapped nor did anyone “abscond” with him, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said today.
He said kidnapping claims did not make sense as Taib had been confirmed to be at his home in Kuching.
“There have been reports and some of the facts are wrong as they are based on rumours that are inaccurate, because the information did not come from police.
“From the hospital, he was taken to his residence, he was ill, was he kidnapped? No,” Razarudin said at a press conference here today after launching a safety operation for Chinese New Year.
“To say that he was kidnapped is illogical. His children have seen him at home. His siblings have also seen him at the house, with a doctor and a nurse.
“The facts claimed before this need to be corrected,” Razarudin said.
Sarawak police chief Datuk Mancha Ata earlier confirmed that Taib, 87, was at his home in Kuching.
He added that a total of eight police reports against Raghad as of yesterday, but did not name those who had filed the reports.
Most of the reports were lodged alleging that the ailing former chief minister had been forcibly taken from hospital against doctors’ advice.
Social media was also rife with speculation of his purported “kidnapping” and accusations against Taib’s wife, Syrian-born Toh Puan Raghad Kurdi Taib.
Yesterday, Raghad called for a stop to speculations and accusations against her, stating that her only concern was to care for her husband. She earlier denied removing Taib from hospital against doctors’ advice. – February 7, 2024