> Investigate Najib

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has called for a probe on Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for allegedly abusing his power in relation to the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case.

Anwar’s call came in the wake of an alleged exchange of text-messages, purportedly between Najib and senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah over the alleged involvement of political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda in the case.

   

“Our allegations against Najib - from the murder of Altantuya, the submarines and Eurocopter (purchase deal) to the SMSes exchanged between him and the lawyer - there is no response, no investigation and no report,” said Anwar, when met in the Parliament lobby today.

“So you find there is a case where a public figure wants to be shielded from any investigation.”

Anwar, also the Permatang Pauh MP, said the latest development will affect the government’s credibility.

He called for open investigation to uncover the truth, saying: “How can we accept a leader who is not prepared to defend himself? (But) I am not suggesting anything except for an open investigation.”

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had said yesterday that he does not believe his deputy would have abused his power.

The SMS exchanges were highlighted on the Malaysia Today portal over the weekend.

It once again trained the spotlight on Najib, his wife Rosman Mansor and Altantuya, a 28-year-old Mongolian national who was murdered in Shah Alam in 2006.

The article entitled ‘Abuse of power by the deputy prime minister’ had exposed a series of SMS messages allegedly exchanged between Najib and Muhammad Shafee.

The lawyer had previously represented Abdul Razak, Najib's advisor, and a close ally of the deputy premier, and who is now on trial for allegedly abetting two police officers in the murder.

One text-message allegedly sent by Najib said Razak “will face a tentative charge but all is not lost”.

This has set off a chain of questions among Malaysians and across cyberspace, where the article has been among the hottest items of news.

Najib and Rosmah have repeatedly denied their involvement in the case, with Najib having sworn twice on the Quran that he was not involved in any way with Altantuya.

Meanwhile Datuk Seri Najib Razak has denied any abuse of power in relation to the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder investigations and the government's acquisition of 12 Eurocopter helicopters.

But he did not deny the text message exchanges between him and a lawyer at the heart of the allegations were genuine. He said the SMS exchanges were a private matter.

"Why do I need to comment? There is no abuse of power," the deputy prime minister said.

Malaysia Today said this message raises some questions about Najib's role in the case. "Why did he mention "tentative" charge and that "all is not lost" for RB (Razak Baginda)? How would Najib know this before Razak was charged? These are important questions which will have ramifications, not just on this case but far beyond," a posting on the website said.

However, Najib would neither confirm nor deny that the supposed SMS exchange between him and Shafee were genuine.

"It doesn't really matter. The important thing is there is no abuse of power," he said.

"No need, no need, it is private. Whatever it is, the prime minister has said enough," he continued in the same tone.

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today defended his designated successor Datuk Seri Najib Razak against renewed allegations about the latter’s involvement in the murder of a Mongolian woman in 2006.

"I cannot believe Datuk Seri Najib will want to abuse power," said Abdullah when asked to comment on the allegations which surfaced over the weekend on the Malaysia Today website - Malaysiakini and The Malaysian Insider.

Mr. Prime Minister, don't  be so naive not to believe. Malaysians just want an investigation - My Journal.