Najib Abdul Razak has dismissed the allegation by former police Special Action Force (UTK) personnel Azilah Hadri that he ordered the killing of Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Speaking to Malaysiakini, the former prime minister also questioned why this information had surfaced more than 10 years after the Mongolian national's murder in 2006.
He alleged that it could be a plot by the Pakatan Harapan administration to divert public attention from its shortcomings.
“This is a complete fabrication by a desperate person seeking to escape the gallows.
“Why did this information not come out earlier, and only now, more than a decade after her death and only after 19 months Harapan has been in power?” Najib asked.
“I believe this is a deal struck between the Harapan government and Azilah, with the latter's death sentence being commuted or delayed in return. This is an attempt to distract attention and to hit out at me,” he added.
Najib also maintained that he has not met Altantuya despite Azilah claiming otherwise in his statutory declaration (SD).
Furthermore, the former premier said, anyone can do an SD, especially if the person is already on death row.
“If you were to believe SDs then you should also believe the recent SD made against the 8th (incoming) PM,” he added in reference to the sexual misconduct allegation against PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.
Reaffirming his innocence, Najib also welcomed a fresh police investigation into the latest allegation and noted that a Malaysiakini report earlier this year had quoted police sources as saying there is no evidence linking him to any high profile murders.
Malaysiakini had reported that Azilah, who is on death row in Kajang Prison, is seeking a review of the Federal Court's decision and a re-trial.
In his explosive SD, the former police officer claimed that Najib and the latter's close associate Abdul Razak Baginda had instructed him to kill Altantuya.
Azilah alleged that both of them had described the Mongolian national as a foreign spy, who was a threat to national security.
Recalling an alleged meeting with Najib in Pekan, Azilah said the then deputy prime minister had ordered him to “arrest and destroy” Altantuya.
"I asked the DPM (deputy prime minister) what he meant by arrest and destroy the foreign spy, he responded: 'Shoot to kill', and indicating it with a 'slit the throat' gesture.
"When asked the purpose of destroying the foreign spy with explosives, the DPM replied: 'Dispose the foreign spy's body with an explosive device to remove the traces and the explosives can be obtained from the UTK store (armoury)',” he alleged.
Azilah also claimed that he saw Najib and Razak Baginda meeting Altantuya at a condominium in London. - Mkini
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