| Najib and the Murdered Mongolian |
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| Written by Our Correspondent | |
| Friday, 13 November 2009 | |
![]() Altantuya's Bones in the urns See also: The Confession that Never Was Questions for Najib over a Missing Model Altantuya's Killers Judged Guilty A Malaysian private investigator in hiding for more than a year after recanting a sensational statement connecting now-Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to the murder of a Mongolian translator, has surfaced to reaffirm his allegations and to say he had been offered a RM5 million (US$1.48 million) bribe to disappear by a businessman said to be connected to Najib's wife, Rosmah Mansor. The attractive translator, Altantuya Shaariibuu, was murdered by two of Najib's elite bodyguards in October of 2006 in a particularly gruesome fashion. After she was shot twice in the head, her body was blown up with C4 military explosives. Any indication that she and two friends had entered Malaysia disappeared from the immigration department's records. The statement by the private detective, P Balasubramaniam, in a YouTube video, appeared on Malaysia Today, the website run by Malaysian journalist Raja Petra Kamaruddin, who promised far more startling episodes in the near future. As many as five segments, accounting for 20 minutes of revelations, remain to be aired, he said in an email to Asia Sentinel. The first segment can be found here. Balasubramaniam said in his original statutory declaration that he had been hired by Abdul Razak Baginda, one of Najib's closest friends, to protect him from the wrath of Altantuya after he had jilted her. Razak Baginda was originally charged with the murder along with Najib's bodyguards but was acquitted without having to put on a defense. In the 90-second video, Balasubramaniam said he had met with the businessman, Deepak Jaikshnan, the director of a carpet firm, in a bak ku teh (pork rib soup) restaurant in the Rawang* suburb where he lived, in which the businessman offered him the money. In an accompanying story in Malaysia Today, Raja Petra displayed photocopies of RM50,000 checks on Public Bank of Malaysia made out by Deepak Jaikshnan. Although no indication was given of where Balasubramaniam is now, other sources say he may be in India. In the videotape, he was said to be in the company of three Malaysian lawyers. Almost immediately on giving his original statement tying Najib to Altantuya in the company of his lawyer and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, the private investigator was hustled to a Kuala Lumpur police station where he wholly and completely recanted the original, saying he had been coerced into making it by Anwar and others. Then he and his family disappeared. He had not been heard from since. In his original statement, Balasubramaniam said he was making it because of his "disappointment at the standard of investigations conducted by the authorities into the circumstances surrounding the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu." He wrote that he wanted the "relevant authorities to reopen their investigations into this case immediately so that any fresh evidence may be presented to the Court prior to submissions at the end of the prosecutions [sic] case." According to letters found after Altantuya was murdered, she was attempting to blackmail the married Razak Baginda for US$500,000 after he had broken off their affair after spending thousands of dollars on her. The two bodyguards, Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar and his boss, Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, were convicted of the murder and have been sentenced to hang. They are currently appealing the sentence. Sirul confessed to the murder, although the confession was never allowed into evidence in the trial, and said the two had been offered RM100,000 to kill the woman. The marathon trial was notable for the extensive lengths the defense, prosecution and judge all went to in a bid to keep Najib's name out of it. Although Razak Baginda, in a cautioned statement, said he had gone to Musa Safri, Najib's chief of staff, to ask for help in keeping Altantuya away from him, neither Musa Safri nor Najib was ever called to give evidence or appear in court. Razak Baginda almost immediately left the country for England after his acquittal. The two bodyguards have rarely been seen in public. When they are produced, their heads are usually covered, leading cynics to speculate that when it comes time to hang them, some other luckless criminals might be forced to substitute for them. The private investigator said in 2008 that he had had extensive conversations with Razak Baginda in the days leading up to Altantuya's death in which he was told she had been introduced to Razak Baginda at a diamond exhibition in Singapore and that she had been handed off to him to look after her because Najib "did not want her to harass him since he was now the deputy prime minister." It should be noted that on occasion Malaysia Today has been spectacularly wrong. At one point the website said Rosmah Mansor had been present at Altantuya's murder, although Sirul's confession made no mention of her and no other evidence has emerged to indicate she had been in the jungle clearing where the translator died. He has also delivered sensational reports that have been verified. In the story on the website on the same day the YouTube video appeared, Raja Petra recalled that he had been having lunch with Balasubramaniam when the private detective received a call saying a police supervisor named Suresh was telephoning him to tell him his family's security was at stake. After he had repudiated his statement, according to Raja Petra, he was whisked to India and hidden. Balasubramaniam, Raja Petra wrote, had no choice but to accept the RM50,000 a month and "retirement' in India or suffer the same fate as Altantuya. "Little did they know that Bala was just biding his time, waiting for the right moment to strike back. And now he is striking back and has come out to reveal what really happened since the time he signed his first Statutory Declaration, followed by the second one the following day, 16 months ago," Raja Petra wrote. The Altantuya murder, with its long-rumored ties to Najib, has had the potential to blow up into one of Malaysia's biggest scandals ever since the time the woman's body was found near a suburb of Kuala Lumpur. In his original declaration, Balasubramaniam said he had been told by Razak Baginda that the woman wanted the US$500,000 apparently as a commission owed to her from "a deal in Paris." The document also purported to confirm long-reported rumors that Najib, Razak and Altantuya had been at a dinner in Paris during the time when the submarine transaction was being negotiated. During the trial, a cousin of Altantuya's said she had seen a picture of the three at dinner, but the prosecution and defense both refused to take the matter further. That deal was the purchase by the Malaysian government of three submarines at a cost of US$1 billion. According to testimony in Malaysia's parliament, a company controlled by Razak Baginda received a €117 "commission" for the purchase of the submarines from the French military. Interestingly, in late October the son of the late French President Francois Mitterrand and a former minister were convicted of taking bribes relating to the sale of a huge amount of arms to the government of Angolan President Eduardo dos Santos between 1993 and 1998 in defiance of a United Nations arms embargo. Some 42 persons were accused of selling weapons to the Angolans. Despite calls to have Paris look into the Malaysian submarine transactions for possible evidence of corruption, no action has been taken and it appears unlikely that it will be. See also: The Confession that Never Was Questions for Najib over a Missing Model Altantuya's Killers Judged Guilty Correction. We misnamed the suburb. We thank our sharp-eyed reader for catching the mistake.
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![]() written by Akiba Ryu, November 14, 2009
Factual error: The meeting was in the RAWANG suburb. There is no RENONG suburb in Selangor.
written by Katharina Sri (former: Noor Aza) Germany, November 15, 2009
I wish now, the British has never left! What a mess Malaysia is now - full of dirty and murderous politicians, policemen and civil servants, especially from the Malay culture (I'm a Malay myself, although no more a Muslim - thank Christ!)! And now the suspected jointly-alliance of Al-Qaeda/Iranian Mullah's Regime, through its both local and foreign footsoldiers, especially susoected, from Pakistan, Iran and Bangladesh, are infiltrating Muslim NGOs, Muslim political parties especially PAS and universities - they are strategically targeting oil as in Indonesia and Brunei, in the effort to set up Al-Qaeda base in SEA! Thus is why now, we have increasing Arabic-style/led Islamic fanaticism in Malaysia, that is threatening our dynamic multiculturalism, such as when 20, 000 bibles have been seized for using the same name for God!
written by Marcos, November 16, 2009
When the British left, they left behing a colonialist legacy to the Malays. Initially it was the Alliance but the influence of the non malay parties, i.e. MCA and MIC, were gradually eroded as their leaders sought the support of UMNO is their struggle for power. Hence with every change of leadership of the MCA, some influence went out the window, until it is now nothing but a lap dog of UMNO. You can read the deceit of the MCA in the book by "Politics in a plural society" by Vasil. It documents the political thinking of leaders like Lee San Choon and the party's subsequent leaders. It was playing out the interests of the Chinese whole sale. Now MCA leaders are nothing but proxies of UMNO who use them as fronts for wealth generating schemes. This set up will be tested in the years to come. Specially so when the Malays are bent on "ketuanan melayu" and "ketuanan islam". There will be a clash of wills. The Malays will lose what they already have. The real losers are the Malays who cannot migrate. They will see their leaders, the UMNO Putras, leaving the country for the good life in Western Christian countries. They will have taken their loot and left for the UK, USA and Australia and even South America. Those left behind will be subject to reprisals from the non Malays. Malaysia will become like Sri Lanka or the Philippines. A country broken by corrupt, racist and incompetent leadership by UMNO, MCA and MIC. The government is aware of this and has been salting their personal wealth overseas. Even Kazanah is putting a lot of it's money overseas in property. That shows you how much they trust their own policies. Sad end for Malaysia, a land of honey robbed of its wealth by it's politicans and left nothing for it's people but an empty hive.
written by Mamakthir, November 17, 2009
As he is not bought to justice, at least Najib should apologise to the Mongolian people over this murder.
written by biggun129, November 17, 2009
As a Malaysian, I pity the late mongolian girl, I feel very bad for the family, and I wish to extend my personal apologised as Malaysian, The innocent Malaysian regret what had happened, may god bless Altantuya's family!
written by Barry E Carter, November 18, 2009
Speaking in Shanghai China at the request of Han Zheng its mayor, President Obama said that the United States is a unique country - it would be difficult to tell who actually an American is because every one is equal and that 50 years earlier he may not have been able to vote as an African American but today he is the President and Commander in Chief of the United States! Mind you it’s the most powerful economy in the world. He also supported “no censorship” and transparency-he would be able to govern better if he is informed of what the needs are of the people. In the 21st century we need someone like him to tell the world that democracy is the best solution to date. That requires a separation of powers-something the British left for Malaysia with an abundance of English speaking populace.
President Obama has the moral authority to say that having repealed most of the policies of the Bush generation. He went so far as to say that what the US did was torture! Detainees are given a trial. Now can Najib Tun Razak say that?????? He is a suspect now. The ISA continues no transparency and no public participation in the affairs of the government. The government in Malaysia has a blank cheque. It is because of this that so many things are going wrong. In support of Najib Razak there is UMNO a notorious group of people who are exploiting Malays, Chinese and Indians. They have been doing this for 50 years and more! They don’t want change-it’s like a baton, after you I will make money and you wait your turn to take over. Malaysian are fed up! Today ordinary Malaysians must be convinced that the powerful can no longer exploit their positions to make themselves wealthy and to continue with impunity while the less fortunate in this country struggle to find work and to feed their families. The appearance of luxurious mansions from Alor Setar to Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bharu, with many expensive cars parked outside, surrounded by private armed guards, is a very worrisome sign that many Malaysians are cheating their people while claiming to be in their service. Transparency International has clearly come out in the open and said that corruption is on the rise in Malaysia. Everybody on the street knows that the government is corrupt. But when you are one of the main suspects in a murder which has been covered up, you will need a corrupted Police force, Judiciary and many friends who will support you in this devious crime. So there won’t be a change unless UMNO is disbanded and parties are formed without racial lines like in the United States. That is the ONLY WAY. I think everyone in Malaysia wants to get out and people in the thousands are leaving Malaysia because things are so unbearable that it pointless to live in a country that is going down and when citizens are being discriminated racially. Every branch of the government has been eroded. The courts have been moved so far from the public that it has become expensive to seek justice-Thanks to the Dictator Mahathir Mohamed an Indian Muslim from Kerala, India. The hospitals which were once clean and free as an essential service are now listed on stock exchanges making money for the cronies who run this for the people on power. Since the judiciary has become a kangaroo court, so have all other departments. Police are now thieves, the Anti-corruption have become corrupt, the MCA are leading the Malays by the horn and UMNO is raping the Malay population. The Malay now is so diluted; we don’t know who Malay is and only Allah know who a Bumiputra is! written by Barry E Carter, November 18, 2009
Now finally, the PM of Malaysia may be a murderer suspect. All the evidence points to the fact that something is really wrong! Worse still the PM’s friend was acquitted by the High Court and the Attorney General another corrupted government lackey refuses to appeal!!!! Imagine in Malaysia, the government won’t appeal when they would if it was Muniandy, Ah Kong or Ahmad facing death row. That by itself shows that this must be looked into-if not by our domestic courts- an international tribunal. Torture and Murder are crimes against humanity (Jus Cogens) and any court in the world can examine the facts on the basis of universal jurisdiction. Not only was the Mongolian citizen tortured, Altantuya Shaariibuu‘s pregnant belly was blasted with C-4. Ammunition that could be obtained by the government was used and all indications that she came to Malaysia legally mysteriously disappeared. This is a terrible and brutal crime. Although no state is legally bound to admit aliens into its territory, but if it does so it must observe certain standard of decent treatment towards them, and their own state (Mongolia) or family may demand reparation for an injury caused to them by a failure to observe this standard. This is now customary international law and Malaysia is bound to apply it forcefully.
That decision of the Permanent Court of International Justice decision in Pansvezys-Saldutiskis Railway Case, Series A/B 76, p.16. Altantuya Shaariibuu deserves better than this from the Malaysian people! This is adequately set out in Article 55 of the UN Charter which Malaysia is a party to-the observance of human rights….Non-governmental organizations must push that Altantuya Shaariibuu‘s family be given a “legitimate expectation” to have this resolved in view of the new evidence and a special prosecutor appointed or a independent commission to re-examine the facts. No stone should be left unturned-statements from P Balasubramaniam, Raja Petra Kamaruddin ( a brave Patriotic Malaysian) Deepak Jaikshanan (another Indian Muslim) , Corporal Sirul Azhar and Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri must be made available to the Malaysian public who will be the ultimate judges of this great shame on Malaysian justice. If the State does not comply with what the Malaysian public wants –the Mongolia government, the family or any non-governmental association must support the family of Altantuya Shaariibuu invoke the Alien Tort Claims Act to sue the government and its leaders in the United States .The only requirement is that an alien sues for a tort committed in violation of the Law of the Nations (Judiciary Act of 1789, Chapter 20 § 9(b). Deliberate torture perpetrated under colour of official authority violates universally accepted norms of international law of human rights, regardless of the nationality of the parties. Thus wherever an alleged torturer is found and served process by an alien within the USA it invokes US Federal jurisdiction. The case is Filarrtiga v Pena-Irala US Court of Appeals 630 F.2d 876 (2 Cir. 1980). Short answer to anyone is to contact Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International in London who will assist further. No policy suggested by this Malaysian government has credibility unless they are subject to international scrutiny or by an unbiased commission. written by Daniel Ortega, November 19, 2009
Najib cant make any changes to UMNO or to the Institutions that provide for democarcy and good governance simply because of the fact that he my find himself investigated by an honest Police Force, charged by an honest Attorney General in the event there is a case to nbe heard and convicted by an unbiased impartial Judiciary.
All this well happen if Najib Razak find good, honest people to run Malaysia.But as he is in this quagmire he needs the corrupted politicians, rent seeking patrons who aill support him, bleed this country dry in consideration tio keeping him in power.Frankly, Najib cant resign if he wants to. Malaysia Habis! written by Mamakthir, November 20, 2009
Especially Najib, his wife Rosmah and his other cronies.
written by Ulu Jempol, November 22, 2009
Democracy was meant as a basic rule for people who believe in honesty and righteous in their ways. You cannot deviate from this principle.
But when Hishamuddin said that the Malaysian Muslim Murder of the Bali bombing can be rehabilitated ( obviously because that murder was a malay and Muslim unlike Chin Peng), we have to give others a chance too.Everyone makes mistakes.But.........................................................other mistakes are not forgiveable..because ................ for starters “everyone must be equal”- but unfortunately it fails when you have dishonest people in power. As a Malaysian, I was very sad to be the last of more than 30 in my family to leave Malaysia-a country that I still love. I have seen the post colonial Malaysia as worse than when we were a colony. Every thing that the Malay government complained a bout the British they use against us-Malays, Chinese and Indians. What a joke? I have read so many articles in this newspapers that educates me and I can understand the frustration of the minorities in Malaysia, especially after their forefathers built this country. Having no recognition that the Indians and Chinese as founders of Malaysia are painful. In the United States-the Chinese contribution, just like the indigenous Indians, Hispanic and Black communities are recognized and have their own museums. Isn’t that wonderful? Malaysia has stifled its people. But outside Malaysia, the history books are very clear. But unfortunately children in Malaysia are taught that Indians are immigrants like their Chinese brothers. Sad that no Malay wants to speak up and go to jail for the minorities being discriminated in Malaysia. Look at the USA and UK-those white men who fought for the blacks as far back as the 1960s with King. But Malaysia is dying internationally-it will be raped by many nations because we are fighting internally-we can’t even have a common citizenship. Do the Malays want to be the Bumiputras? Why not take a referendum. It will only and I am pessimistic that the world will realize another country that practices apartheid! How can a country move forward when Malays are the supreme race in Malaysia and the Indians and Chinese are 2nd class? Mana boleh? Malaysia must restructure –no segregation. Malays College and MARA must take in Malaysian citizens, otherwise its racial discrimination! written by Burung tua., November 22, 2009
What Najib is doing is nothing but expressing the culture of deceit and hypocricy of the Malay leaderhip. They have been like the proverbial "Arab and the camel". Slowly pushing out the non Malays out of the tent. Of course they have the support of MCA and MIC. That is why "mati mati" they must have MCA with them. Any other Chinese party will stand up for the nonsense of UMNO. This deceit started slowly with Tengku Abdul Rahman but accelerated with Razak and Mahathir. Now they are pushing full speed. Their reaction to Chin Peng is case in point. They knew of all his "atrocities" before signing the peace treaty. But signed it they did and rather quickly too. Now they refuse to let him come home. Why? Typical of UMNO deceit. Muslim terrorists can be rehabilitated but Chin Peng cannot. Rather stupid if they think Malaysians cannot see through their deceit. In every election they promise lots and lots of "things" to the non Malays but immidiately forgotten afterwards. And they are rather proud of it too! The reason why they signed the peace treaty with Chin Peng? Well, the CPM of Malaysia fought the Thai southern command as well as the Malaysian army. The Thais got a bloody nose because the CPM was now better equipped in contrast to their time in Malaysia. So when the Thais signed a peace treaty with the CPM, Malaysia could not now take on the CPM without taking big loses. There were reports of large groups of CPM trekking through from the north to the south in full view. The Malaysian army dare not take them on. Hence the haste to sign the peace treaty. As LKY even pointed out - if the Japanese with their brutality cannot take on the CPM, what hope have the Malays have. But the Malays are not wise people. They are emotional and irrational and do not see long term. They only know they must be the only occupant of the tent. What is the use of being the sole occupant if there is nothing in it? But they will be very happy until they see that outside the tent, life is better.
written by Jay Jay, November 28, 2009
Bala was promised RM5m to keep quiet. What happened? Where is the money?
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