PKR: Ex-cops should be re-tried for Altantuya murder, not acquitted

File photo of ex-policemen Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar (heads covered). The Court of Appeal in Putrajaya on August 23, 2013 overturned their conviction of murdering Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.

The Court of Appeal should have ordered a retrial of the high-profile murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shariibuu, instead of acquitting two former police commandos previously convicted of her killing, PKR’s R. Sivarasa said today.

The Subang MP stressed that the appellate court is empowered to do so, especially when there was a number of key witnesses who were not called during the High Court trial that led to the duo’s conviction in 2009.

“Even if the Court of Appeal found defects in the manner the High Court judge analysed the evidence and in the conduct of the prosecution in presenting the case, the proper order to make in this case was to order a retrial and not grant an acquittal,” Sivarasa told reporters here.

“There is ample power under the law in Section 60 of the Courts Judicature Act 1964 to order a retrial which is regularly done in appeals.”

In a decision that stirred controversy yesterday, a three-man panel of the appellate court unanimously ruled that Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar be allowed to appeal their charges.

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Winners and losers in the Altantuya saga

Altantuya Shaariibuu, the former Mongolian model whose life was ended brutally in Malaysia, but no one faces justice for the crime. August 24, 2013.


The murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu has had more twists and turns than a drive up Cameron Highlands, the latest being Friday's acquittal of policemen Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar.

This has never been a simple criminal case, and today, The Malaysian Insider looks at those who have had their reputations hammered by the case and those who have been let off easy.



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Pakatan MPs demand A-G explain after ex-cops walk from Altantuya murder

Surendran ( R )said that despite Altantuya’s death over six years ago, no one has been brought to book for the murder. Gobind ( L ) said the Attorney-General must explain why it failed to call material witnesses in support of its case.


The Attorney-General must explain how his prosecutors allowed two former police commandos to go free for the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu after the Court of Appeal today reversed the 2009 conviction, Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers demanded.

The Court of Appeal overturned Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar’s 2009 conviction of the high-profile murder of the Mongolian woman, reportedly ruling that there was a misdirection by the High Court judge in the trial then.

The DAP’s Gobind Singh Deo said Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail must now answer for the prosecution team’s failure to ensure a safe conviction.

“The A-G must explain why is it they failed to call material witnesses in support of their case in this prosecution,” Puchong MP said.

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Azilah, Sirul freed of Altantuya murder charge

Sirul Azhar's lawyer, Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, speaking to the media outside the court. The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, August 23, 2013.

Two former police commandos were freed today after the Court of Appeal allowed their appeal and overturned their conviction for the 2006 murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu (pic).

A three-member bench comprising judges Datuk Seri Mohamed Apandi Ali, Datuk Linton Albert and Datuk Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat made the unanimous decision to allow the appeal by former chief inspector Azilah Hadri and former corporal Sirul Azhar Umar.

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Najib brokers peace deal for strife-torn MIC

Palanivel confirmed that the president and deputy president posts would be unopposed. (left).
Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said he will abide by the PM's request. (right)

There will be no contest for the top two MIC posts after the contenders agreed to a peace deal which party sources claim was brokered by Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak himself.

The source revealed that Najib had met party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam and vice-presidents Datuk M. Saravanan and Datuk S.K. Devamany at his residence in Putrajaya on Sunday.

Najib was said to have advised them to concentrate on strengthening the party and avoid a contest which could result in “open warfare” in the party.

The source said the posts of party president and deputy president would not be contested this year.

The presidential election is scheduled for September 22 and the election for other national office bearers — deputy president, three vice-presidents and 23 Central Working Committee members — is to be in November.


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Najib Politic Dilemma in UMNO

He has been in the toxic world of politics from the age of 23; seen three deputy prime ministers being hounded out of office and watched from the sidelines as one prime minister was harassed and harried and forced to step down in 2009.

He has had a front-row seat as a serial offender schemed and plotted the end of Tun Musa Hitam, Tun Ghafar Baba, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his biggest scalp, Tun Abdullah Badawi.

So, it is understandable for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to be nervous about the looming presence of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic), to be uncomfortable about the former PM's caustic comments about him being indecisive, too accommodating to non-Malays and too weak to lead Umno and Barisan Nasional back to redemption five years down the road.

At a recent gathering before Dr Mahathir's fan club, the Kelab Chedet, the former prime minister was not quite charitable in his assessment of Najib. Also, during an overseas holiday with a prominent businessman, he noted that Najib had practically thrown everything at the voters but still could not deliver the BN gold standard of a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

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Joyous Hari Raya celebration at PM's official residence

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor waving the crowd present at the Hari Raya Open House at Sri Perdana

It was a joyous Hari Raya celebration at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's official residence here.

Elegantly dressed in a royal blue baju Melayu, Najib, accompanied by cabinet ministers, came down to greet the public at 11am with a warm welcome.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhiyiddin Yassin and wife Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman both wearing pink traditional attire, joined the line soon after.
Najib's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wearing a matching blue baju kurung, their daughter and her fiancee joined him an hour later, before the family moved to the dining area to entertain their guests.

The dignitaries included former ministers, ambassadors and high commissioners, governmental and non-governmental organisation leaders and prominent artistes.

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Overseas trips for PM cost RM44mil over five years

THE Prime Minister’s office has spent a total of RM44.071mil on overseas trips over the past five years.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim said the sum was recorded between 2008 and May this year.

Shahidan said this in a written reply to Nga Kor Ming (DAP - Taiping) who asked for the Prime Minister’s expenditure for foreign trips over the past five years.

During a press conference at the Parliament lobby, Nga called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to explain the gains of the trips to justify the expenditure.


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Najib: Govt will uphold Islam

This includes protecting the use of the word 'Allah', says PM

KUALA SELANGOR: THE government will continue to uphold Islam and protect its sanctity, including protecting the use of the word "Allah" with the mandate given by the people.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said although Barisan Nasional had failed to take over several states under Pakatan rule, including Selangor, the government would do its best for the people and ensure a holistic development would be carried out, as called for in Islam.

"We will provide more education opportunities, including in the Islamic field, more places of worship and better facilities for the people," he said after performing terawih prayers with the people at Masjid Jamiur Ridhuan in Simpang 4, Jeram here last night.

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Bishop calls for Najib to take stand against Perkasa, Jati

Christians have had enough of the bashing from the likes of Perkasa and other Malay rights groups. They expect Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to intervene and “do the right thing” by rejecting such extremism.

This was the stand of the president of the Council of Churches Malaysia, Bishop Philip Lok. He was speaking to The Malaysian Insider in the wake of the demands by Perkasa and Jati that the Vatican’s envoy Archbishop Joseph Marino withdraw his support for the local church’s campaign to use the word Allah and that he must apologise within seven days.

The vocal rights groups have demanded that the government shut down the Vatican’s embassy and banish Marino if he does not apologise.

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Church right to say Allah describes God, says Vatican’s first envoy to Malaysia

In his first interview with the Malaysian media, the first resident diplomat sent by the Vatican to live and work in this country spoke on the controversial issue of the use of the Arabic word "Allah" to describe God in any religion.

Archbishop Joseph Marino said he supports the stand of the Catholic Church in Malaysia.

He applauded the arguments made by the Christian Federation of Malaysia to use "Allah" in its texts to refer to God as very well done.

Archbishop Marino is the Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia. This position, also often known as a papal nuncio, is the Vatican equivalent to an ambassador.

'Opposition has failed to prove polls allegations'

Parties are welcome to challenge election results in court, Najib tells BBC World

KUALA LUMPUR: THE government has nothing to hide about the process and outcome of the May 5 general election in spite of recent pressure mounted by certain quarters about the matter.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in an interview with the BBC World on Tuesday, said the government, under the ruling coalition, was open to reviewing the matter as long as it was done according to the country's legal provisions.

"I wish to maintain the election was free, fair and transparent. And up to today, there have been no real reports that they (the opposition) could substantiate (the) allegations.

"We are prepared to (answer questions) but (only) as long as we go through the courts.

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Najib in London to enhance ties

DATUK Seri Najib Razak arrived here yesterday for a four-day working visit and will meet his British counterpart, David Cameron, to enhance bilateral ties.

LONDON: The prime minister, accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, arrived at Farnborough Airport here from Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania where he attended the Global Smart Partnership Dialogue.

The Najib-Cameron talks will be held on Thursday prior to both leaders unveiling a plaque to mark the commencement of the iconic Battersea Power Station redevelopment project.

The mixed-development multi-billion-ringgit project, on the south bank of River Thames, is being undertaken by the Malaysian consortium of Sime Darby Bhd, SP Setia Bhd and Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

Malaysian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Datuk Seri Zakaria Sulong, said he expected the two leaders to touch on various issues, especially on efforts to boost bilateral trade.

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Govt may up income eligibility for BR1M

1Malaysia People’s Aid recipients. The government is looking at increasing the income limit to allow more people to be eligible for BR1M3.0.

THE government is mulling increasing the income eligibility for the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) from RM3,000 to RM5,000, said Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan.

If the idea is pushed through, it would mean that families earning RM5,000 and below would be eligible for the BR1M handout.

He was responding to Langkawi member of parliament Datuk Abu Bakar Taib in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday on whether the government would be willing to increase the BR1M eligibility amount for families.

"We are looking into increasing the income limit to enable more people to be eligible. We are also mulling other considerations for BR1M in the 2014 Budget."

He said the government was considering other proposals regarding the disbursement of BR1M, including dividing the amount between spouses.

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Altantuya murder trial: DSP Musa should have testified

The failure to call Datuk Seri Najib Razak's aide-de-camp, Deputy Superintendent Musa Safri, constitutes a mistrial which led to the conviction of former police officers Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006.

Counsel Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, who is representing Sirul, said this was because Musa was the only person who could shed light on the numerous phone transactions between himself and Abdul Razak Baginda. Razak Baginda was then the political analyst to Najib, who was then the deputy prime minister.

In his affidavit, Razak Baginda had said there were more than 30 phone calls and text messages to Musa on Oct 19, 2006, to stop his then lover, Altantuya, from harassing his family.

Razak was initially charged with abetting in the murder of Altantuya but was later acquitted by the High Court without having his defence called.

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BR1M increase will depend on financial situation: Najib

The allocation for the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) will be increased in Budget 2014 to be tabled in October, but the quantum would depend on the nation's financial situation, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The government, he said, was committed to provide the best budget for the people, but it had to depend on the country's financial position.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said the government also aimed to reduce the country's deficit from 4 per cent to 3.5 per cent in 2014 and to three per cent in 2015.

He said the government's priority fHe said the government's priority for the 13th Parliament which began sitting today was to fulfill the Barisan Nasional's (BN) Aku Janji (pledges) made in the 13th general election.

"Discussions on Budget 2014 will begin next week. I, on behalf of the government, am happy to invite the people to give their views and opinions on the country's budget for next year," he said in the latest entry in his blog today.

Najib breathes easier after Dr Mahathir pow-wow

It has been a roller-coaster ride for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (pic left) since he led the Barisan Nasional to victory at the May 5 general election but without achieving his own benchmark: restoring its two-thirds control of Parliament.

There have been sessions to put out fires with disgruntled MPs; promises made to Umno politicians seeking appointments to boards of Government-linked companies and monitoring comments from influential voices such as Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic right) amid reports that Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah could be emerging as a threat of sorts.

In short, it has been a challenging time for the man at Sri Perdana.

But Monday was a good day for the PM.

Dr Mahathir met Najib and assured him that he believes that there should not be any contest for the top two positions in Umno in the party's year-end polls.

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Carmakers refute Utusan’s price slash claim

Carmakers Volkswagen and Peugeot have both refuted claims of a price slash this year, as reported in Umno-backed broadsheet Utusan Malaysia three days ago as part of proof that the ruling coalition had fulfilled its election pledges.

Utusan had reported that Volkswagen, Peugeot, Honda and local marques Proton and Perodua had reduced the prices for 10 of their models by up to 11 per cent from January this year, presenting the list as proof that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government has fulfilled its pledge for lower car prices in its Election 2013 manifesto.

“Please be advised, the price on the image is incorrect. The Golf price has always been RM157,888 from the time of launch. Not RM169,888,” a representative from Volkswagen Malaysia commented on its Facebook page, referring to its sports hatchback model Golf.

A user had previously posted an image of Utusan’s report, which claimed that the Golf’s price has been slashed by 7.1 per cent from RM169,888 to RM157,888.

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Najib’s brother accused of undermining Umno by backing AirAsia X CEO

Datuk Seri Nazir Razak was today faulted for plunging brother Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Umno deeper into a post-polls “crisis of confidence” following his defence of AirAsia X CEO Azman Osman Rani’s against criticism from Utusan Malaysia.

Former Umno minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin, or “Zam” as he is popularly called, accused Nazir of failing to understand that the ruling party may not have maintained its Malay support in Election 2013 without the Umno-owned newspaper.

He said Nazir, the CEO of CIMB Group and the younger brother to Prime Minister Najib, had likely thought that Barisan Nasional (BN) would recapture some of lost support from the Chinese had Utusan Malaysia not targeted the community.

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SUARAM seeks UK’s help to stop Pakatan crackdown

Among others, SUARAM said Cameron should urge Najib to proceed with his earlier resolve to abolish the Sedition Act 1948.

Local rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) sought intervention today from the United Kingdom with a letter urging Prime Minister David Cameron to help stop Malaysia’s crackdown on the opposition.

The letter, sent today to Cameron’s address at 10 Downing Street, asked the British PM to appeal to his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Barisan Nasional-led (BN) government to stop the ongoing security dragnet that against Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders and their supporters.

SUARAM insisted to Cameron that those hauled in so far to face police action had not violated any criminal law in their attendance or organisation of mass rallies to protest electoral fraud.

“We call on the UK Government to show moral and political leadership to address Malaysia’s recent crackdown on Malaysian human rights activists and opposition politicians,” the group said.

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