PARLIAMENT, July 3 – Datuk Seri Najib Razak repeated his denials of knowing murdered Altantuya Shaariibuu, despite claims made to that effect in a sworn statement revealed at a press conference today by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. But he did say that he had met the opposition leader's "traumatised" sodomy accuser recently.
"I have never met the Mongolian woman mentioned in the statutory declaration. That is why it is a terrible lie, a malicious fabrication and fitnah," the deputy prime minister replied to a constant barrage of questions at a packed news conference in Parliament. Najib tried to look composed but one could sense he was rather worried.
Anwar dropped the bombshell allegation and other claims contained in a sworn statement by P. Balasubramaniam, a private investigator hired by murder accused Abdul Razak Baginda to keep Shaariibuu away from him. The opposition leader had earlier linked the volunteer, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, who claimed sexual assault, to Najib's office.
Najib has kept denying links to Saiful when the case blew up, saying the 23-year-old came to his office and met officials some months ago looking for a scholarship.
But he admitted today he met Saiful at his house recently because "he was so traumatised" about the sexual assault and came looking for help. However, Najib said he left it to the university dropout to decide whether to report the case.
"It is a very desperate attempt by Anwar Ibrahim ... to detract attention from the sodomy charges," Najib said, adding Anwar has been attacking senior government officials - the police chief, the attorney-general and himself since the sodomy allegations came to light.
"Why now?" Najib asked, saying it was leaving it to the authorities to take action on Balasubramaniam's statutory declaration and noted the issue was subjudice as the trial is still going on.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he did not want to comment on the latest allegations. "I do not want to comment on this. All this talk is subjudice. This case is already in court."
However, Abdullah said Najib had indicated to him that he would be seeking advice from the attorney-general on the matter.
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