Taib sons’ legal challenge proceeds as High Court dismisses Raghad, RHB applications

KUCHING (Dec 11): The High Court today dismissed applications filed by Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib and RHB Investment Bank Berhad to strike the civil suit filed by the sons of the late Sarawak Governor Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud being Dato Sri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib and Dato Sri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib.

Judge Alexander Siew How Wai held that as beneficiaries, both sons had locus standi to commence the suit and that it was not a plain and obvious case to be struck out summarily.

The civil lawsuit filed by Sulaiman and Abu Bekir is in respect of the disputed transfer of 50 million shares in Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad (Cahya Mata) which was transferred from their late mother Datuk Patinggi Leila Taib to Raghad.

Leila, who passed away in 2009, was the shareholder of Cahya Mata, holding 111 million shares.

In 2023, out of the 111 million shares, a total of 50 million shares were suddenly transferred to a Raghad, Sulaiman and Abu Bekir contends that she is not a beneficiary of their late mother’s estate.

As such, Sulaiman and Abu Bekir commenced the civil suit herein and claimed that the aforesaid transfer was unlawful and sought restitution of the 50 million shares to the estate of Leila.

The learned Judge fixed Jan 13 2026 for the next mention date.

This means that the litigating parties will proceed to trial.

Sulaiman and Abu Bekir were represented by lawyers Alvin Chong, Jonathan Tay and Ezekiel John Chong.

Raghad was represented by Alvin Yong and Shirleen Ong while RHB was represented by Tan Kee Heng and Lesley Ling.