Wednesday June 25, 2008 MYT 12:47:00 PM

Najib on Raja Petra claims: Total lies and fabrication

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dismissed Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s statutory declaration linking Najib’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansur to the Altantuya murder as “total lies and fabrication.”

Raja Petra, editor of online news portal Malaysia Today, filed the declaration at the High Court here on June 18, naming three individuals who were purportedly present when Mongolian translator Altantuya Sharibuu was murdered in 2006.

Najib said the police have taken a statement from his wife, but described Raja Petra’s allegations in the statutory declaration as “desperate and pathetic attempt to taint my political image.”

Raja Petra is a liar, says Najib
MalaysianInsider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has decided to fight back and prevent the rumour mill from spinning out of control over his alleged involvement in the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaaribuu.

In his most strongly worded comments so far, he called claims by Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin linking him and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to the Altantuya case as a total lie and complete fabrication.

This comes on top of last night’s vote of faith by the prime minister in his deputy. Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi said he didn’t believe any of the RPK allegations regarding Najib and Rosmah.

Also following Raja Petra’s statutory declaration last Wednesday, in which he linked the deputy PM and wife to the Altantuya killing, Najib said Rosmah had given her statement to the police.

He welcomed the police probe into Raja Petra's claims.

He hit out at RPK’s desperate and pathetic attempt to sully his image. He did not see any other possible motive from Raja Petra.

In his declaration, RPK charged that Rosmah and two others were at the scene of the action when Altantuya was killed on Oct 19, 2006. The other two were identified as explosive expert acting colonel Aziz Buyong and his wife, known only as Norhayati.

It was further alleged that Khairy Jamaluddin, the prime minister’s son-in-law, and an unnamed Malay ruler had been briefed on the matter.

RPK’s declaration also said Abdullah has a written report on the incident from military intelligence which is in Khairy’s safe custody.

Abdullah has dismissed all of the allegations and specifically denied he has any military intelligence on the matter.

The Altantuya trial is ongoing with the prosecution having just closed its case.