No links at all between PM and Altantuya, PMO reiterates

PETALING JAYA: The Prime Minister's Office has reiterated that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak “did not know, has never met, has never had any communication with and has no link whatsoever with’ deceased Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu (pic).

A report in Al Jazeera’s 101 East current affairs programme on Thursday alleged that Altantuya had ties with the Prime Minister and that the two men convicted of murdering her were linked to Najib.

“The two convicted individuals were not the Prime Minister's personal guards. This allegation is intentionally misleading, and has been used to perpetuate baseless conspiracy theories.

“They were members of a unit of the Royal Malaysian Police that provides rotating security for government officials and visiting dignitaries. The Prime Minister was not aware of the actions of the individuals until their arrest,” said the statement that was published in Al-Jazeera’s website.

PMO said a thorough legal process had taken place, including police investigations and court trials, including at Malaysia's High Court, Court of Appeal and Federal Court.

“The guilty parties have been convicted and sentenced. At no point during any of these legal stages was the Prime Minister implicated, even indirectly. These malicious allegations are therefore also an affront to Malaysia’s judiciary.”

The statement also said that Altantuya was never involved in the purchase of submarines for the Royal Malaysian Navy, as has been alleged, and that the purchase was directly negotiated between the Malaysian and French governments.

“The reality is that there was absolutely no wrongdoing on the Prime Minister's part in the Government's purchase of the submarines. Absolutely no payments ever benefited him. Again, these are baseless smears for political gain."