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©Bernama
(Used by permission)
DEWAN RAKYAT, July 3, 2008: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Najib Tun Razak said allegations that he knew and had met murdered Mongolian
woman Altantuya Shaariibuu made in a statutory declaration by private
investigator P. Balasubramaniam, were malicious lies aimed at smearing his
image.
Following this latest development, Najib reiterated what he
had said earlier, that he never knew the woman or had ever met her.
“I am very sure this action is a desperate move by Anwar Ibrahim to divert
attention from the sodomy allegation he is facing,” he told a press conference
that was attended by scores of journalists at his office in Parliament here
today.
Najib said what was important now was not issues raised as a diversion but the
people wanted to know whether the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor (Anwar)
had committed the offence (sodomy) as alleged.
“I hope the concerned parties will investigate the matter fully and make the
findings public as soon as possible.” he said.
On the statutory declaration, Najib said because it conflicted with
Balasubramaniam’s testimony in court (in Altantuya’s murder trial) and the
statement given by him in his police report, he would leave it to the proper
authorities to investigate the matter.
“The responsible parties must be ready to face the consequences if it is found
laws had been broken,” he said.
Asked whether he would be making a police report against Balasubramaniam or take
legal action against him, Najib said he left it to the police to take action.
Asked if he would describe this revelation as a personal attack on him by Anwar,
Najib said: “The question is why it surfaces now, after the sodomy complaint was
made (against Anwar). Suddenly everyone has come under attack, the
Inspector-General of Police (Tan Sri Musa Hassan), Attorney-General (Tan Sri
Abdul Gani Patail), I, why now?”.
“But we cannot get sidetracked from the issue at hand, that is whether the
sodomy happened or not ...this is what we want to know,” he said.
In Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he
did not want to comment on the latest allegations.
"I do not want to comment on this. All this talk is subjudice. This case is
already in court," he said.
However, Abdullah said Najib had indicated to him that he would be seeking
advice from the attorney-general on the matter.
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