KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 ― Lim Kit Siang said today that Datuk Seri Najib Razak should not ignore the recent resurrection of Altantuya Shaariibuu’s murder by Al Jazeera, and more importantly, the suggestion by the news network’s journalist for a fresh investigation on the 2006 case.
The DAP leader said no one was suggesting that the prime minister had been personally involved in the murder, but stressed that the key concern was on whether the case had been adequately investigated.
“In these circumstances, how can Najib be silent or passive to the Al Jazeera offer of cooperation with any Malaysian police investigation that would look into the fresh evidence that came to light when filming 'Murder in Malaysia' documentary?” Lim asked in a statement today.
The Gelang Patah MP was referring to Malay Mail Online's report yesterday quoting Al Jazeera reporter Mary Ann Jolley saying that the Malaysian police should investigate the fresh evidence that she had reported in her documentary on the murder.
The Australian journalist pointed out that the text messages sent by former police commando Sirul Azhar Umar ― who was convicted together with another ex-police commando of killing the young Mongolian woman ― to a man named Abdul Salam Ahmad on January 17 this year, in which he had asked for millions of dollars to “remain in Australia and not bring down the PM”, was not hearsay.
The first-hand account of a conversation between Sirul and his relative, in which Sirul alleged that Altantuya’s ex-lover Razak Baginda had shot her, was not hearsay either, Jolley insisted.
“Al Jazeera is happy to co-operate with any police investigation and would urge authorities to look into the fresh evidence that came to light while filming ‘Murder in Malaysia’,” Jolley told Malay Mail Online in an email interview, referring to her documentary.
“The film follows the facts of the case and ample opportunity was given to all those mentioned in the film to participate and respond to allegations,” added the freelance reporter who hosted the episode for Al Jazeera’s “101 East” programme.
Lim asked today if Najib was willing to respond positively to Jolley's offer.
He said the prime minister should order a full-scale probe on the case by establishing a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI), pointing out that although the Altantuya's murderers have been sentenced, no murder motive had been established.
“Why is it that there is such a gaping hole with regard to the motive for the Mongolian's murder?” he asked.
“In this connection, can (Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed) Apandi (Ali) explain why there had been no appeal by the prosecution against the acquittal of Razak Baginda for abetting murder of Altantuya by the Shah Alam High Court in 2008?” Lim said.
