Thursday November 9, 2006
Razak an urbane and debonair intellectual
KUALA LUMPUR: Abdul Razak Baginda is certainly one of the best known political personalities in the country with his regular appearances on television, and at conferences and circuits.
Urbane and debonair, the 46-year-old dashing intellectual is highly regarded because of his powerful links with senior political leaders.
Married with a daughter, the King’s College graduate is attached to the Malaysian Strategic Research Centre, a private think-tank here.
The former lecturer has written books on politics, economics, defence and international relations and is completing his doctorate at Oxford University.
An eloquent speaker, he was previously the Head of Strategic Studies and International Relations at the Armed Forces College here.
He is also a member of the World Economic Forum (Davos) Global Leaders for Tomorrow and the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Although he was not named by the media following reports of the gruesome murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaaribuu, 28, many people were already aware over the past 48 hours that he was linked to the event.
But following a remand order on him by a magistrate's court yesterday, news agencies started to name him in their reports.
Cabinet ministers, politicians and intellectuals who had been contacting reporters for confirmation of the analyst’s detention since Tuesday expressed shock at what had taken place.
“This is a shock to many of us because Abdul Razak is an affable person and everyone knows of his strong political ties with certain Umno personalities,” said a fellow analyst.
A senior politician described the case as “sensational” as it involved a high-profile figure with powerful political ties and police officers, and that it would be closely watched.
A former Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia lecturer regarded Abdul Razak as a “good man”, and he hoped that the public and media would adopt an open mind.
It is understood that police are investigating the circumstances that led to the meeting between the analyst and Altantuya, who has a baby boy, at his Bukit Damansara house.
It has been reported that she sought financial help for her child, who has medical problems.
Abdul Razak was picked up for questioning at his Ampang office by several policemen on Tuesday.
He is being detained at the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman, where he is assisting a special task force set up to probe the murder of the Mongolian woman.
He was brought to the magistrate's court here yesterday to be remanded.
Altantuya, who is said to go by the name Anna, arrived here about a month ago.
Related Stories:
Razak Baginda questioned over abduction of Mongolian model 
Remand of officers extended
Analyst gave model diamonds, says consul
Woman’s dad to prove marital ties
Mongolian students express shock
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