The Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) has issued anotice cancelling the purported press conference to be held in Bangkok today by retired inspector-general of police Musa Hassan.
Musa, according to the press conference announcement posted on the website last Saturday, was supposed to reveal new details about the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder.
However, he denied any knowledge of the event when contacted by Malaysiakiniyesterday.
"I do not know anything about this. I did not make such arrangements," Musa told Malaysiakini in a brief telephone conversation.
The FCCT website this morning issued a brief notice saying the event was cancelled, with a reminder: "This is not an FCCT-sponsored event. Responsibility for program content is solely that of the event organizer."
When contacted yesterday, a foreign journalist in Bangkok toldMalaysiakini that the event had been abruptly cancelled, but the FCCT provided no details, except to say that the cancellation notice would be on its website today.
"I don't have details as the FCCT is closed today, but it seems that the press conference will be cancelled. The cancellation notice will be sent Monday morning," the French journalist said via email.
"I am not sure what happened. From what I know, it is not possible for someone, member or non-member, to put the notice directly on the FCCT website. It has to go through the club's office," he added.
Musa, according to the press conference announcement posted on the website last Saturday, was supposed to reveal new details about the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder.
However, he denied any knowledge of the event when contacted by Malaysiakiniyesterday."I do not know anything about this. I did not make such arrangements," Musa told Malaysiakini in a brief telephone conversation.
The FCCT website this morning issued a brief notice saying the event was cancelled, with a reminder: "This is not an FCCT-sponsored event. Responsibility for program content is solely that of the event organizer."
When contacted yesterday, a foreign journalist in Bangkok toldMalaysiakini that the event had been abruptly cancelled, but the FCCT provided no details, except to say that the cancellation notice would be on its website today.
"I don't have details as the FCCT is closed today, but it seems that the press conference will be cancelled. The cancellation notice will be sent Monday morning," the French journalist said via email.
"I am not sure what happened. From what I know, it is not possible for someone, member or non-member, to put the notice directly on the FCCT website. It has to go through the club's office," he added.
'A sensitive matter'
According to a Thailand-based veteran social activist, an FCCT representative told him that former IGP Musa would not hold the event as it was "a sensitive" matter.
However, he did not elaborate what was "sensitive" about the event.
None of the foreign journalists contacted was aware of the event until notified by Malaysiakini.
They also did not have any information about the organiser of the event, beyond being told that "Musa cancelled it as soon as it was announced".
According to the notice on the FCCT website yesterday, the press conference was to be held at noon, Malaysian time, today.
Provocatively titled 'New revelations in the Altantuya murder case', it did not name the organiser but included the disclaimer that the event is not sponsored by the FCCT.
Malaysiakini failed to obtain any response to this from FCCT yesterday evening as club was closed for the day.
Altantuya, a translator from Mongolia, was slain with military explosives on Oct 18, 2006 - five weeks after Musa was promoted as the country's top cop.
Two police personnel - former bodyguards of then deputy prime minister and defence minister Najib Abdul Razak - were charged with her murder.
They were found guilty and sentenced to death. Their appeal is due to be heard this month.
Najib's close associate, defence analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, was charged with abetting the two police personnel in the murder. However, he was acquitted without his defence being called.
Prime Minister Najib has denied ever knowing Altantuya. In May, Musa told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview that he had cleared Najib of any connection with the murder.
According to a Thailand-based veteran social activist, an FCCT representative told him that former IGP Musa would not hold the event as it was "a sensitive" matter.
However, he did not elaborate what was "sensitive" about the event.
None of the foreign journalists contacted was aware of the event until notified by Malaysiakini.
They also did not have any information about the organiser of the event, beyond being told that "Musa cancelled it as soon as it was announced".
According to the notice on the FCCT website yesterday, the press conference was to be held at noon, Malaysian time, today.
Provocatively titled 'New revelations in the Altantuya murder case', it did not name the organiser but included the disclaimer that the event is not sponsored by the FCCT.Malaysiakini failed to obtain any response to this from FCCT yesterday evening as club was closed for the day.
Altantuya, a translator from Mongolia, was slain with military explosives on Oct 18, 2006 - five weeks after Musa was promoted as the country's top cop.
Two police personnel - former bodyguards of then deputy prime minister and defence minister Najib Abdul Razak - were charged with her murder.
They were found guilty and sentenced to death. Their appeal is due to be heard this month.
Najib's close associate, defence analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, was charged with abetting the two police personnel in the murder. However, he was acquitted without his defence being called.
Prime Minister Najib has denied ever knowing Altantuya. In May, Musa told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview that he had cleared Najib of any connection with the murder.
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