Friday April 15, 2011

Najib thankful that truth has been revealed

LAWAS: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is thankful that the truth has finally been revealed over allegations linking him and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Najib said he knew that the truth would finally prevail over allegations made by Malaysia Today founder and editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin in a statutory declaration in 2008.

He said it was now obvious that the allegations were aimed at discrediting him and preventing him from becoming Prime Minister.

“I've always considered the matter closed. It was only an issue in the realm of the court of public opinion,” he said after launching the Seri Malaysia hotel here yesterday.

Najib said he had steadfastly maintained that he and Rosmah had never met or had any interest in Altantuya.

“I have sworn three times in the mosque and until now, no one has come up with any evidence,” he added.

Najib said Raja Petra's admission that he no longer believed the allegations against him (Najib) should convince anyone about the truth.

“This is politics of the lowest level,” the Prime Minister added.

In a sensational interview over TV3 on Wednesday night, Raja Petra said he had made the allegations in the belief that the order came from PKR adviser and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He added that his statutory declaration in 2008 - that he was reliably informed that Rosmah was among those present at the crime scene on Oct 19, 2006, when Altantuya was killed - was based on information and demands by several individuals aimed at preventing Najib from becoming Prime Minister.

Raja Petra claimed that these individuals were connected to several politicians, including Anwar, and that they had put pressure on him to do what he did to prevent Najib from taking over from former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who relinquished the post in 2009.

In Kuching, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Raja Petra's admission was not due to any pressure.

“The revelation is something new. There was no pressure just because of the state election,” he told reporters after launching the Road to Paralympics London 2012.

He said people were smart enough to differentiate between truth and baseless accusations.

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