'Respond to queries raised on Altantuya's murder'

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Women's Minister Rohani Abdul Karim must respond to the Mongolian delegation's demand for answers to the murder of translator Altantuya Shaariibuu, says Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin.

"Najib, as the prime minister, should respond to the questions posed to him by the delegation. He should be ashamed and take action to resolve the case so that it does not drag on and tarnish Malaysia's name," the Wanita PKR leader said in a statement yesterday.

Zuraida (left) said Rohani should pressure Najib on the issue, in view of the brutal murder of the mother of two children.

Although the murder took place seven years ago, she said, no one has been punished for it so far, except the two police special forces men, Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar, who appeared to be scapegoats because their motive for the murder had not been determined.

"Najib and (his confidante) Abdul Razak Baginda, who are closely connected to Altantuya's murder, are still living normal lives... It is as if they (the police officers) were used as scapegoats to cover-up his conspiracy in the Scorpene (submarine) case," Zuraida said.

According to the late private investigator P Balasubramaniam, Altantuya had assisted in the negotiations for the purchase of the submarines and was harassing Razak in an effort to collect her fees.

Instead, she ended up being murdered and her body blown up with high-grade C4 military explosives in Shah Alam in 2006.

Balasubramaniam had implicated Razak Baginda (right) and Najib as those behind the murder. Najib at that time was the defence minister.

Najib has denied this allegation and during the 2008 Permatang Puah by-election campaign, he made an oath in a mosque that he does not know Altantuya and never had any connection with her.

Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar have since been convicted for the murder of Altantuya and are on death row pending their appeal. Sirul has also filed a case with the Court of Appeal, claiming mistrial.

As the matter continues to drag on, some 70 Mongolian delegates at the Global Summit of Women in Kuala Lumpur held a press conference on Friday, demanding answers to Altantuya's murder and financial support for her children.