Pak Lah defended Najib innocent over Altantuya's case

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today defended his designated successor Datuk Seri Najib Razak against renewed allegations about the latter’s involvement in the murder of a Mongolian woman in 2006.

"I cannot believe Datuk Seri Najib will want to abuse power," said Abdullah when asked to comment on the allegations which surfaced over the weekend on the Malaysia Today website.

Malaysia Today carried a report detailing what it alleged was an exchange of text messages between Najib and Datuk Shafee Abdullah, the prominent lawyer who represented Abdul Razak Baginda, the close associate of Najib who was eventually charged with abetting two police officers in the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006.

In one SMS, Najib allegedly tells the lawyer that Razak — his advisor — "will face a tentative charge but all is not lost."

Malaysia Today said that this message raises some questions about Najib's role in the case. "Why did he mention 'tentative' charge and that 'all is not lost' for RB (Razak Baginda)? How would Najib know this before Razak was charged? These are important questions which will have ramifications, not just on this case but far beyond," a posting on the website said.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the opposition have tried to link Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor with the murder since it happened in October 2006.

Today, Abdullah backed the deputy prime minister against the latest allegations.

"I believe in him, that he would be a good person," said the Prime Minister.

"He will be Prime Minister and provide leadership."

Since Abdullah announce his decision to not defend the Umno presidency, tremendous momentum has built up for Najib to take over as party president next March and also as Prime Minister if the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition remains in power.

But in the past week the political pressures on Najib have mounted.

Besides the allegations surrounding his involvement in the 2006 murder, he is also being linked with a return to "Mahathirism."

His critics have accused him of being a "puppet" of former hardline Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, with some observers expecting a more authoritarian system of government with tighter controls.