Taib’s daughter-in-law wants RM400m from estranged hubby

KUALA LUMPUR — The demand by Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s daughter-in-law for her estranged husband Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib to pay her RM400 million, as stated in divorce papers filed last month, has put the wealth of the Sarawak chief minister’s family in the spotlight at a time of growing scrutiny ahead of state polls.

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Datin Seri Shahnaz Majid is claiming RM100 million in alimony and RM300 million for matrimonial property from her estranged husband.

She said the amount 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.

Shahnaz also sought to have Mahmud Abu Bekir’s assets — among which she listed seven luxury cars, thousands of hectares of land in Sarawak and shares in 15 companies — declared joint property and for it be halved.

In her divorce application, Shahnaz, who holds an MBA in Finance and was at one time a director of the family-owned CMSB, said she wanted to end their marriage under the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 because he has not given her “nafkah batin” since 2001.

The sister of Malaysian jazz queen, Datuk Sheila Majid, also accused Mahmud Abu Bekir of punching her head, face and eyes; kicking her in the ribs; and throttling her — in addition to verbally abusing her with derogatory language, and thereby causing emotional and mental stress.

Shahnaz claimed that since 1999, her husband rarely came home and could not be advised, was difficult to contact and was very sociable with other women.

Abu Bekir, she claimed, did not treat her fairly after marrying a widowed Russian national.

But Shahnaz, 48, told the Syariah Lower Court here today that she has yet to serve the papers on Mahmud Abu Bekir, who is Taib’s elder son and the deputy group chairman of Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad (CMSB).

“We have tried passing the divorce documents personally to Mahmud. However, the effort failed as no one is allowed to enter his house, and the document was passed to his maid instead,” her lawyer, Dr Mohd Rafie Mohd Shafie, told the court.

The lawyer asked to be allowed to serve the divorce papers by email instead. Syariah judge, Mohd Amirul Adam Ahmad, agreed and set April 24 for mention.

The couple married on January 9, 1992 and have a son, Raden Murya Abdul Taib Mahmud, 17. – Malaysian Insider