Rojak and Cocktail: 'Investigate Najib'-Anwar

Anwar questioned why the investigation stopped at Razak baginda and the two police officers. He said he is not accusing anyone, but at least Najib should be questioned by the police. Najib has to answer some very serious questions, e.g. how did the UTK who were assigned to DPM got involved in this case? Did Najib know the crime prior to the report by the taxi driver? Was Altantuya only aquiented to Razak? Did the DPM know her?

Serious case needs serious attention. Anwar said once the ruling power degenerates into the state of involving in hideous criminal act such as murder, it is no return. We are in a dangerous situation.

The public is entitled to know that investigations on the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu were carried out without fear or favour, and that all those responsible will be brought to book, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim

Anwar held a press conference in his house. He commented on the recent development of Altantuya case. He called for transparency and impartiality in the trial.

Speaking in a press conference in his residence today, he said questions had also been raised about whether Altantuya had a role in the government's purchase of the Scorpene and Agosta submarines from France in a deal costing nearly 1 billion euros (RM4.6 billion).

"We find it totally unacceptable the reasons given by the government that there is no question of corruption or accountability because the commission that was paid was between the seller and a third party and did not involve government funds.

"This is a blatant lie because no manufaturer would give such huge commissions unless that has already been factored into the pricing of the purchases of the submarines," he said.

"The payment of this commission of 114 million euros (RM530 million) is exorbitant by any standard. The public has the right to know who are the beneficiaries of this massive payout?" he added.

Anwar said the Far Eastern Economic Review in 2002 had reported that Perimekar Sdn Bhd would receive 8% of the total contract value over the next six years.

He said according to the publication, Perimekar was fully owned by Ombak Laut, a company owned by Abdul Razak Abdullah and his associates.

He said Ombak Laut then sold 40% of Perimekar to Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera and a sister company.

Asked how he came to know about all this, Anwar said he was privy to some of the information - but did not eleborate how - while the rest was publicly known.

Political analyst Abdul Razak is charged with abetting in the murder of Altantuya, 28, on Oct 18.

During the press conference, the former deputy prime minister also commented on the Election Commission (EC) chairman's call on Monday (Jan 8, 2007) for legislative reform so that the commission can uphold the democratic process of fair and transparent elections.

He said the chairman's admission showed that the entire process was flawed in the past.

"(The previous elections were) not free, no access to the media and certainly many regulations are considered to be bias," he said.

He added that if nothing was done following the chairman's call, it would be a "mockery of the entire electoral process."

Anwar also commented on the agreements between the government and highway concessionaires, saying if there was compelling reason to suggest that the terms of the agreements were not transparent and fair, then a renegotiation was warranted.

On Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's remark that the cabinet was not always knowledgeable and politicians, including himself, could sometimes be "stupid," Anwar said they would "have to pay for the stupidity" and "don't get the poor to pay for the stupidity."

Media Statement: The Altantuya Murder Case Raises Important Questions on Governance and Accountability

Apart from the legal and criminal issues, this case has raised several important questions pertaining to governance and accountability.

The public is entitled to know that investigations have been carried out without fear or favour especially with regards to the use of C4 explosives as well as the fact that two of the accused were Special Forces Unit personnel assigned to the Deputy Prime Minister’s office.

In this regard, public interest would require that police statements should be recorded from all those deemed to have any kind of relations with Altantuya Sharibu or any links with the murders. For example, there are some nagging questions on why would the Special Forces personnel currently charged want to murder the victim and then take such drastic action in an attempt to destroy the evidence? Were they acting on their own volition or were they really carrying out instructions? Who authorised the use of the C4 explosives?

There is also the very disturbing issue about the sudden disappearance of travel documents regarding Altantuya’s movements in and out of Malaysia.

Are the immigration authorities aware of this? Were there instructions from persons higher up to have these records deleted? How did it take place ? These are questions which must be investigated now in a transparent manner, and those responsible exposed.

Regardless of whatever happens in the trial which will only be take place next year, these basic questions must be dealt with now. These questions are asked not only in the country, but throughout the world as our judicial system comes under scrutiny yet again. The impression now is of a truncated criminal investigation raising more questions than answers. It is vital that whilst those who pulled the trigger are brought to justice, all those who were responsible for directing the killing must be made known. In fact, such persons bear greater responsibility for the crime.

There have also been questions raised about Altantuya’s role in the government’s purchase of the Scorpene and Agosta submarines from France in a deal costing nearly 1 billion euros (RM4.6 billion). We find it totally unacceptable the reasons given by the government that there is no question of corruption or accountability because the commission that was paid was between the seller and a third party, and “did not involve government funds”.

This is a blatant lie; because no manufacturer would give such huge commissions unless that has already been factored into the pricing of the purchases of the submarines.

The payment of this commission of 114 million euros (RM530 million) is exorbitant by any standard. The public has the right to know who are the real beneficiaries of this massive payout? As revealed in the Far Eastern Economic Review in 2002, Perimekar Sdn. Bhd., would receive 8% of the total contract value over the next six years. According to the publication, Perimekar is owned 100% by Ombak Laut, a company owned by Abdul Razak Baginda and his associates. Ombak Laut then sold 40% of Perimekar to LTAT and a sister company.

How could a relatively unknown company secure such a major weapons procurement deal? The fact that Razak Baginda was the head of a political think tank closely linked with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence itself raises a great number of questions as to the transparency and propriety of the transactions.

Why have the relevant authorities such as the Anti Corruption Agency and Commercial Crime Division of the Police not begun investigations on this matter?

ANWAR IBRAHIM
January 10th 2007