Former Premier of Sarawak Abdul Taib Mahmud has been in the news lately for not-so-good reasons. After reports that his second wife, Toh Puan Raghad Kurdi, allegedly absconded with him from the hospital, netizens have been digging into his family’s life and discovering proof of their excessive wealth and privileges, leading to a slew of criticisms.
Along with his wife, Taib Mahmud’s stepsons have gotten tons of hate over the past few days, with many netizens calling them out for their arrogance due to their status. Recently, a video of Taib’s stepson, Nizar Mahmoud Madi, resurfaced, fueling netizens’ anger. The video, shared by Twitter user Annoyed Malaysian, shows Nizar eating a burger before wiping his mouth with a wad of cash.
Reminder that Taib Mahmud's "bumiputera Melanau" stepson (Raghad's son) ate a burger on TikTok & wiped his mouth obnoxiously with cash that probably belongs to the people of Sarawak. 🤮 (Video credit: Sarawak Report) https://t.co/VohGV794vV pic.twitter.com/NdSR3Gs61X
— Annoyed Malaysian 🇲🇾 (@annoyedmsian) February 6, 2024
The caption for the video writes, “Reminder that Taib Mahmud’s “Bumiputera Melanau” stepson (Raghad’s son) ate a burger on TikTok & wiped his mouth obnoxiously with cash that probably belongs to the people of Sarawak.” Nizar Mahmoud Madi was born from Raghad’s previous marriage and has no biological relation to Taib. However, the Syrian-born and his brother have been reaping many benefits from their relationship with Taib, including gaining citizenship and Bumiputera status. They are also entitled to inherit Taib’s wealth if he were to pass away.
Unsurprisingly, netizens who watched the video slammed Nizar for the shameless and insensitive display of wealth. Many called it a mockery of Sarawakians’ hardships as he and his family lived in luxury. Many netizens also called for authorities to investigate or revoke their citizenships, fearing that he would continue to take advantage of the status. Some netizens also said they were glad that more information about Raghad and her sons was resurfacing, hoping it would lead to Sawarakians taking action towards the family.
In the meantime, the family of Taib Mahmud has also lodged a report against Raghad after she “kidnapped” him from the hospital. Taib’s brother, Datuk Mohammad Tufail Mahmud, also claimed the family would hold Raghad accountable if anything happened to the 87-year-old.
Sources: Twitter, New Straits Times
