Taib Mahmud's Wife Gives Him An RM1.5 Million Bentley For His 80th Birthday
The white Bentley Continental GT V8 S convertible was presented to him at a birthday celebration in Kuching on Saturday, 21 May.
By Nandini Balakrishnan — 25 May 2016, 05:56 PM
Sarawak governor Taib Mahmud has reportedly received a 1.5 million worth Bentley car as a birthday gift from his wife
Ragad Taib presented the 80-year-old former chief minister with the white Bentley Continental GT V8 S convertible, affixed with gold ribbons, during a celebration in Kuching last Saturday.
According to sources, the gift also coincided with the couple’s fifth wedding anniversary.
malaysiakini.com
Taib married his now 36-year-old wife, Ragad Waleed Alkurdi Taib on 18 December 2010 after the death of his first wife, Laila Taib in 2009
Taib, Ragad and their family members photographed at his 80th birthday celebrations on 21 May in Kuching, Sarawak
Image via The Borneo Post
Sarawak's English daily, Borneo Post reported that the former chief minister's 80th birthday celebrations were held at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex on Saturday, 21 May.
Prominent members of the Sarawak political community like deputy chief ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang and other cabinet ministers reportedly joined the celebrations with Taib's family.
Ragad recently courted controversy when it was learnt that her Malaysian citizenship was approved in "record time" of just six years, while undocumented Sarawak natives have been waiting for decades to receive their citizenships
"Approval of Ragad Waleed Al-Kurdi's citizenship in such a short period of time clearly shows heavy, hidden hands that pushed for it to be sped up," DAP Batu Kawan parliamentarian Kasthuri Patto said in a statement.
The matter came to her attention following news reports that Ragad had cast her vote in the 11th Sarawak state election on May 7, reportedly her second time voting.
She said that there were only two ways that Ragad could become a citizen, either by application as the lawful spouse of a citizen, or if she applied for it after becoming a permanent resident.
As Taib's wife, she can apply for citizenship under Article 15 (1) or through naturalisation, under Article 19 of the Immigration Act. However, before she can be registered as a citizen under Article 15 (1) as the lawful wife of a citizen, she needs an entry permit from the Immigration Department.
malaysiakini.com
In May 2015, a similar situation occurred when reports surfaced about Taib receiving a Rolls-Royce Phantom worth around RM3.7 million including taxes, to be exclusively used when he is in Kuala Lumpur
The report also stated that the car is sold in the UK for at least £365,000, which comes to about RM2 million.
The 80-year-old served as Sarawak's chief minister from 1981 to 2014, making him the longest serving chief minister in Malaysia: