The Malaysian Insider

Commentary

JULY 3 - His motives could be impure and Balasubramaniam s/o Perumal may be acting out of spite against his former employers for threatening to lock up him up and throw away the key.

But some of the questions he raised need to be answered - and not only by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. But also by the Prime Minister, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General. Because the sting of his 16-page statutory goes beyond whether Najib knew Mongolian model Altantuya Shariibuu or was intimate with her.

His allegations also touch on the sanctity of police investigations, public institutions and national security. And if left unchallenged could undermine further the confidence Malaysians have in their leaders, institutions and system.

Don't think so?

Let's scroll down the statutory declaration which was released with some fanfare by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today. Private investigator Balasubramaniam said that he was employed by Abdul Razak Baginda in October 2006 after the latter complained of being disturbed by Altantuya.

When he was questioned who she was, Abdul Razak – an advisor to Najib – said that she was a friend introduced to him by a VIP who asked him to look after her financial needs.

The investigator advised Abdul Razak to lodge a police report but he refused to do so as he informed Balasubramaniam there were some high-profile people involved.

Balasubramaniam was later questioned by the police as part of the murder investigation and detained. He was also a prosecution witness in the case.

Allegation Number 1:

Balasubramaniam alleged that Abdul Razak told him that he had been introduced to the Mongolian model by Najib at a diamond exhibition in Singapore. The DPM allegedly informed Abdul Razak that he had a sexual relationship with the woman.

"Najib Razak wanted Abdul Razak Baginda to look after Aminah as he did not want her to harass him since he was now the deputy prime minister, "said the private investigator.

Najib Razak, Abdul Razak and Altantuya were together at a dinner in Paris.

Najib needs to respond to these allegations because it has been the DPM's defence all along that he has never met the Mongolian woman. He said so at stump speeches during the election campaign period and even in Parliament.

The man who is an eyelash away of becoming the PM cannot afford Malaysians to have any doubts about his fitness to lead the nation.

Allegation Number 2:

The woman said that she was entitled to a US$500,000 commission on a submarine deal she assisted with in Paris. Altantuya has been described as a model or a translator. But not a defence contractor or broker. Malaysia's purchase of the two Scorpene submarines has been mired in some controversy with the Opposition accusing the government of paying commission to certain parties.

There have been nagging questions about her background. If she did play a role in securing the submarine deal for the French, what was Altantuya's occupation?

Perhaps Malaysia's security agencies need to dig a bit deeper into her background, and not take anyone's word as the truth. Not Abdul Razak Baginda. Not even Balasubramaniam's. We need to know why someone variously described as a model or language expert was demanding a sliver of the submarine deal.

Allegation Number 3:

Balasubramaniam said that during his interrogation by the police, he told police officers all he knew about Abdul Razak Baginda and what Altantuya said about her relationship with Najib. But he noted that these details were left out of his statement. Also, he alleged that a day before Abdul Razak was arrested; the latter sent an SMS to the DPM saying that he could not believe that he was on the verge of being arrested for murder.

Abdul Razak then allegedly received an SMS from Najib which he showed to the investigator and his lawyer. This message read: "I am seeing IGP at 11am today …matter will be solved … be cool".

These are serious allegations. Balasubramaniam is accusing police investigators of omitting pieces of his evidence which could have been material in the court case. The public needs to have confidence that the law and guardians of the law treats everyone equally.

There cannot be one rule for politicians and another for the everyday man. When Abdullah became the PM in October 2003, he promised to rehabilitate Malaysia's institutions. Chief among these institutions is the police force.

If the private investigator's allegations of a cover up are not investigated or allowed to go unchallenged, should anyone be surprised if all police investigations from now on invite derision and doubt?