Razak Baginda: Najib not involved - Malaysiakini

Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda said today that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had never met the Mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was brutally murdered two years ago, according to a report by Malaysiakini

Speaking to the media for the first time since his acquittal from the case on Oct 31, Abdul Razak said that neither Najib nor his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, had met Altantuya.

"I know that Najib and his wife had never met the deceased Altantuya," Abdul Razak told a packed press conference at a hotel here and pleaded for the media and the public to stop spreading "lies about Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife."

So much 'fitnah' (lies) have been thrown towards the DPM and his wife. he said.

"Those who have spread such lies can never produce any authentic evidence because there are none."

Here's the rest of the report:

He also said that Altantuya was never involved in any arms deal as was mentioned by various quarters for the reason of her killing.

The former Najib aide said that the arms deal took place in 2002, and he met Altantuya two years after that.

He added that he could do nothing about the public perception on the matter, urging everyone to stop linking Najib and Rosmah to the murder.

Abdul Razak also said that Najib would make a good prime minister.

The political analyst was originally charged with abetting with two elite police officers to murder Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu in November 2006.

Surprise acquittal

He was however acquitted without having to enter defence on Oct 31. The other two will have their defence heard next year when the trial continues.

Abdul Razak's acquittal came as a shock to many observers as the prosecution had claimed to have a strong case against him.

Claims of alleged political interference in the case grew stronger when the prosecution did not appeal against the acquittal.

In his 50-minute long press conference held at Hotel Maya in Kuala Lumpur this morning, Abdul Razak blamed bloggers and opinion makers in creating a negative impression on the case.

He also said that he planned to finish his doctoral degree in international relations at Oxford University.

The press conference was also attended by his father and brother.

Both his wife and daughter were not there.Abdul Razak is a known confidante of Najib, having worked on government arms procurement projects while the latter was defence minister.

He was to have held a press conference on Nov 6 but it was cancelled at the last minute.

Raja Petra Might Face Action - Police

Action may be taken against blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin if the Attorney-General finds that there are elements of slander against the government in a statutory declaration made by him on June 18. (according to a Bernama report here .)

Federal CID director Datuk Bakri Zinin said the allegations made by the editor of the Malaysia-Today website in the declaration were very serious.

"Investigations are ongoing and we have recorded several statements except from one person. We waiting to take further action," he told reporters at his office here Friday.

He declined to reveal who that person was.

However, according to rocky'sbru, Lieutenant Colonel Aziz Buyong, described by Raja Petra Kamaruddin in his 18/6/08. Statutory Declaration as a C4 expert, yesterday filed a defamation suit against the Malaysia Today editor. (Read his entry Army colonel to sue RPK for defamation here.) *

So far, among those whose statements have been taken are Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor who is the wife of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Umno Youth deputy chief and Rembau Member of Parliament, Khairy Jamaluddin.

In the declaration filed at the High Court here, Raja Petra named three individuals, including Rosmah, as being present at the scene where Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu was murdered in 2006. (read here.)

Raja Petra further claimed that Khairy had in his possession a military intelligence report about the presence of Rosmah, bomb expert Col Aziz Buyong and his wife Norhayati, who is an aide to Rosmah, at the place where Altantuya's body was blown up with explosives in Puncak Alam, Shah Alam in Oct 2006.

* Read Pasquale's write-up: Army colonels suing Raja Petra Kamaruddin for defamation HERE.

Altantuya Murder: All Lies and I Welcome Police Probe - Najib

Dsmissing as "lies, fabrication and total garbage" the contents of a statutory declaration (SD) filed by blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin that his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor was involved in the murder of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak says he welcomed police investigation into the allegation.

The Deputy Prime Minister said this when asked to comment on the SD filed by Raja Petra in the High Court on June 18 (read here) naming three individuals, including Rosmah, who were purportedly present at the murder scene of Altantuya in 2006.

Najib said he believed Raja Petra's allegation was a "desperate and pathetic attempt to discredit and taint my political image".

"I can't see any other reasons," he added.

"My wife has given her statement," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur after chairing the special cabinet committee meeting on illegal immigrants in Sabah.

Source: Bernama

Read also rocky'sbru Who's telling the truth here and the Star's Najib, Khairy deny Raja Petra claims here.