Estranged wife of Taib’s son seeks husband’s arrest
By The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 — Datin Seri Shahnaz Abdul Majid wants Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s son arrested for twice failing to appear in court for divorce proceedings that will put the wealth of the Sarawak chief minister’s family under scrutiny ahead of April 16 state polls.
Her lead counsel Dr Mohd Rafie Mohd Shafie said Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib, 48, has failed on two occasions to appear before a lower court judge to hear the case, prompting Shahnaz to ask the Syariah High Court for an arrest warrant today, which is nomination day for the Sarawak election.
The eldest son of Abdul Taib had wanted to divorce Shahnaz in an out-of-the-court settlement which would limit the spotlight’s glare on her RM400 million divorce claim.
Shahnaz, however, was seeking a dissolution of her marriage under fasakh (her own application for divorce) on grounds that he had not been fair to her and had not carried out his marital duties.
In her divorce application, Shahnaz, who is the sister of jazz queen Datuk Sheila Majid, claimed they had not had an intimate relationship for more than 10 years and that Bekir had caused her physical and mental anguish.
In her statement of claim, she said she married Bekir on January 9, 1992, and that they have a 17-year-son.
The couple are currently engaged in court battle to settle their matrimonial properties.
Shahnaz has told the court that her claim was reasonable because they have been married for over 19 years and her husband earns a high income as well as owns properties worth billions of ringgit.
