Taib has made clear that he expects to be appointed Governor today, with an audience scheduled to meet the Agong at the Istana Negara at 3pm.

He has informed people that he believes that this will elevate him to a similar status to the British Queen, dispensing advice and held in fond regard.

And, of course, he is making it clear he believes the position will offer him total immunity from any kind of prosecution over his three decades of kleptocracy in Sarawak.

The powers that be, including Malaysia’s PM, ought not to pander to these vanities, because if they promote Taib in this unnecessary and indeed unlawful way the world will hold them complicit in his corruption, which is known to all.

Outraged opposition YBs took their case direct to Najib’s office yesterday and also to the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC).

Sheepish MACC officials confirmed in that meeting with PKR’s Rafizi Ramli and YB See Chee How that their long-standing investigation into the despotic multi-billionaire continues.

However, publicly they have also announced that since Taib’s juniors and not himself signed off his family’s outrageous land grabs, amongst a host of other abuses, they still require proof of culpability (could a generous donor please be found to hire the MACC some decent legal advice?).

Meanwhile, other public figures have placed the issue before the courts.  How could the CM, who has broken the constitution through his company directorships, asked DAP, be allowed to become Governor – a position that also forbids company directorships?

The Kuching High Court came back to claim that it was not its role to veto an appointment by the Agong.

However, the court ruling commented that surely Taib would give up his directorships if appointed Governor!

What better confirmation both that Taib has directorships and that they are illegal?

So, despite the widespread recognition that Taib has transgressed in numerous ways, there is no will to halt the progress of his silver Rolls Royce from Demak Jaya to the Astana, unless the Prime Minister himself does the job he was elected to do and protects the people.

If Najib does not act by delaying the appointment of this famous crook the entire world will ask “what was his price? Did Taib agree to pay all the bribes for the GE14 election or was it some other deal that rescued him from a rightful sacking?”

The PM would do better to avoid being tarred with Taib Mahmud’s dirty brush, a man whose name is synonymous with corruption on a gigantic scale.

This is the man who who was described by his own relatives as corrupt “of course” in a Global Witness video.

That NGO has just released yet another corruption story, this time concerning million dollar kickbacks to Taib’s son Abu Bekir from a Gernman firm Trienekens. Trienekens was chosen to handle Kuching’s waste following its conviction in a high profile bribery case back in Cologne – what better recommendation for the Mahmud family?

Delay the appointment

Indeed it has been Najib, conscious Taib’s shameful record in Sarawak, who has been a key factor in pushing out this outrageous kleptocrat.

There is no doubt that Taib himself, despite his stories to the press, wants to remain Chief Minister.

But, the PM should not leave the job half done and allow this experienced operator to wriggle up into a position of supposed immunity.

He should chop him out of power forever.

Because, if Najib allows Taib to become Governor, with his own chosen replacement (a heart patient who is also a relative) sitting in his old office, he will continue to act as though he remains in total control of the state.

So much so, that the old dictator yesterday astonishingly authorised the announcement of plans to build no less than 5 news dams in Sarawak, beginning within just one year.

Taib is determined to prove he is still in charge – it can only cause problems

That is quite some master-plan to announce two days before leaving office and a clear message that Taib plans to continue calling the shots, even over this highly controversial hydropower programme, which has outraged the people.

It is a sign of hubris bordering on total insanity and Najib should be wary of an old man, who is ceasing to accept reality.

Taib is ready to confront the protesting public head on over the dam issue, while at the same time making huge profits for himself from the construction contracts awarded to his own companies.

Indeed, the retiring Chief Minister’s behaviour is becoming increasingly scandalous and embarrassing by the day.

Whereas before the Prime Minister could present the Sarawak’s White Haired Raja as an awkward inheritance from past times, if he appoints him Governor he will take full responsibility for the unhappy consequences.