Altantuya billboard removed as 'she is not contesting'

SARAWAK BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak could have been looking at the smiling face of murdered Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu - if such billboards hadn't been removed before his arrival in Kuching to campaign for BN candidates.

The billboards, erected by DAP near the airport and several locations in Kuching, were meant to welcome Najib, said Chong Chieng Jen, Sarawak DAP secretary. 

Najib went to Sarawak on Friday on his campaign drive to drum up support for BN candidates and came back yesterday.

Chong said the Election Commission and the Kuching South City Hall sent their officers to take down the billboards with Altantuya's smiling face that had been put up at Pending, Pandungan, Stutong and Chong Lin Park.

An officer from city council explained that DAP could not put up such billboards since Altantuya was not in the election. 

This is despite the fact that there are faces of children appearing in other election campaign billboards that have been put up.

Not happy with the explanation, Chong said the party would hold a demonstration outside the Kuching South City Hall.

Najib visited a number of constituencies, including Saratok, Lubok Antu, Kuching and Sibu, yesterday in his drive to boost support for BN candidates in the state.

Sarawak DAP has uploaded a video clip of a billboard being removed, which has seen 4,400 shares within 24 hours.

"Why is the Election Commission so afraid of Altantuya when Najib is in Kuching? The billboard was removed without the 24 hours' notice given, as stated under its by-laws," Sarawak DAP said in a statement. 

"Do you know why EC is removing this Altantuya billboard in such a hurry? Because Najib is going to pass by this road later," it said.