Public Service Message of National Importance: UPDATED

With an UPDATE on 1.1.07

I have been running public service messages mainly as an Educational Service for fellow Malaysians.
This one is of national importance and its resolution -- half done, medium, fully or well done -- will mark a landmark turning point in Malaysian politics, for better or worse. I have my hopes that it will be for the better. Say similar prayers with me?

I am playing the role of a Messenger, but I support the spirit of the contents almost fully. Minor differences don't matter and hence I stop here and let my ER input their wisdom. ~~ Desi


Media Statement by PKR Adviser:

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

UPDATEd @8.30PM:

For ER interested in becoming a journalist like Desi (BP to become a church mouse2!), and also to Mass Communications students, read how a foreign news agency treats the press statement read out by Anwar at his residence:~~


Malaysia's Anwar seeks wider probe into Mongolian murder
Wed Jan 10, 2007 2:46 PM IST



KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday the police should investigate whether a prominent political analyst used government connections to organise the murder of a Mongolian model.

Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, who heads a local think-tank and has advised government ministers, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of abetting the murder of 28-year-old Altantuya Shaariibuu last October in Malaysia.

Accused with him are two policemen charged with murder. All three face mandatory death by hanging if convicted. The two policemen have also pleaded not guilty.

The trial will begin in March 2008.

Anwar, former deputy prime minister until he was arrested in September 1998 and thrown in jail after he challenged then premier Mahathir Mohamad, said public interest would require police to interview all those deemed to have any relations with the model or any links with the murder.

"It is vital that whilst those who pulled the trigger are brought to justice, all those who are responsible for directing the killing must be made known," he said in a statement read out at a news conference at his house.

"In fact, such persons bear greater responsibility for the crime," he said.

Abdul Razak is a close associate of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak. The two policemen were part of an elite squad in charge of protecting top government leaders.

A spokesman at federal police said he had no immediate comment on Anwar's remarks. A government source said no one else had been questioned apart from the three accused.

Government prosecutors have ruled out the possibility of other people being involved in the case other than Razak and the two policemen.

"Investigations reveal no one else's involvement in this case. Those responsible are in court today," deputy public prosecutor Salehuddin Saidin told the court during a mention last month.

Police have given no details of Shaariibuu's death, but newspapers say she was shot dead and her body blown up with explosives. Her remains were found in a jungle on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur in early November.

NB: DESI's job here is basically an enabler, so I'm not highlighting (BOLDING THUS) any parts of Anwar's satement or REUTER's report.

I advise that you seek out TOMORROW local press (English) coverage -- if you are lucky! -- but most likely the MSM will take the option of RESORT OF LEAST RESISTANCE ~~
Ignore the news compleatly. An act of Omission is as serious as a Commission of an offence of disfiguring the news, BUT WHO THE H*** IN MALAYSIA CARES?

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UPDATEd2 on Jan 11, 2007 @11AM:

There is some hope yet on the far horizon on Mediascape, concerned ER like Freelunch, and hoRst Desi, are glad to see. To wit~~


11/01: Anwar: We are entitled to know

Category: General Posted by: Raja Petra
The Sun

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.

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."

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