‘Najib has a lot to answer’

PKR and NGOs want the prime minister to clear the air following allegations linking him to the murder of Mongolian interpreter, Altantuya Shaariibuu.

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak must come out and clarify the recent statement by carpet trader Deepak Jaikishan linking him to the murder of Altantuya Shariibuu, PKR leaders and NGOs said.

At a press conference yesterday, Deepak promised to reveal more details surrounding the murder of Altantuya.

He said he was involved in arranging for a second statutory declaration (SD) for private investigator P Balasubramaniam.

The second SD reversed the earlier SD which had directly linked Najib to the murder of the Mongolian national.

Deepak said: “I got involved in the second SD to protect the interest of Najib. There is no other logical reason, is there?”

PKR vice-president and Subang MP R Sivarasa said that Deepak’s statement clearly showed that the first SD was the truth.

“… Deepak’s decision for arranging the second SD was obviously to reduce the impact of Bala’s revelations.

“If this is true, then the prime minister has a lot of questions to answer with regard to the real murderers of Altantuya,” he said.

He added that the whole country knew that the two policemen who killed her had acted on instruction.

“So who were the ones who ordered the murder? The policemen acted as the gun, but who really pulled the trigger?

“The prime minister, his closest aides and his wife [Rosmah Mansor] should have been called as witnesses during the murder trial, which would have helped the court in determining the truth,” said Sivarasa.

Reopening murder trial
On whether Deepak’s revelation would benefit Pakatan in the coming general election, he said, “This revelation certainly shows whether the prime minister and his party can continue to lead the country. The people are also be aware of the continued cover-ups.”

On what PKR intends to do with the latest revelation, Sivarasa said, “It depends on the press reports; if the reports continue to reveal more things, we will decide then.”

He added that the latest revelation definitely strengthens the call for a re-opening of the murder trial for truth to be established.

However, Batu MP Tian Chua said, “I don’t need Deepak to tell me whether the prime minister is involved or not.”

“I already know the fact of the matter and what I do know is that the prime minister has a lot to explain,” he added.

He said that regardless of whether a person is a supporter of Barisan Nasional or Pakatan, everyone wants an explanation.

He also said that the people know that Najib cannot just sweep everything under the carpet.

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah said that “we should all wait for the full revelation”.

Meanwhile, Suaram chairman K Arumugam said that Najib should clarify the allegation.

“Najib should either admit or deny. He must clarify the matter or he should lodge a police report against Deepak,” he said.

Bersih steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah urged Deepak to raise his allegation in the court.

“Whatever Deepak alleged should be said in court if he wants justice. Then Najib can appear in court to clear the air,” she said.